How are pediatric training programs preparing residents for practice?
L. W. Greenberg, P. Getson, C. Brasseux, E. G. Pattishall 3rd, S. Kataria, G. S. Bartlett, S. B. Tully and D. Shea
Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC 20010.
The majority of pediatric residents continue to choose a career in practice
on completion of their training. Despite knowing residents' career
preferences, many training programs have focused on inpatient tertiary care
at the expense of primary care. Perhaps this reflects service needs and the
significant technology and extensive information resulting in the growth of
pediatric subspecialties. To determine the spectrum of didactic and
clinical experiences pediatric training programs offer residents to prepare
them for managing a practice, we conducted a survey of pediatric training
program directors in 1988. Although the majority of residency programs have
a practice management curriculum, the number of hours devoted to this area
is minimal. In addition, a significant number of residents are not
experiencing a community office rotation. This survey indicates the need to
develop a practice management curriculum if trainees are to be prepared for
choosing the right career and for being competitive in practice.
