Didactics
Tuesday: 12:30 p.m.–1:00 p.m. (for FM inpatient service only):
Clinical pearl discussion or “Black Pearl” discussion
What is a clinical pearl discussion?
During the family medicine inpatient rotation, each resident will bring a unique clinical question (inspired by their patients’ pathologies) to the team to investigate further. This clinical question will help the resident fully understand various disease processes to be better able to treat their patients, while focusing on evidence-based research, and thus exposing the rest of the team to “clinical pearls” that are vital to the overall inpatient experience in caring for acutely ill patients.
What is a Black Pearl discussion?
In caring for patients on the inpatient service we sometimes have “near-misses” or things that we catch in a patient’s clinical care before an adverse event happens. This is a non-punitive, non-judgmental time for the inpatient team to discuss the details of things that went wrong and how the “near-miss” could be prevented in the future so all can learn.
Wednesday: 1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. (for all residents except Night Float):
Dedicated weekly didactic afternoon—see description below
Friday: 12:15 p.m.–1:00 p.m. (for all residents on outpatient rotations):
Lunch-time Learning
- Fridays at lunch residents will get extra exposure to things like OMT, Behavioral Health Project ECHO, and intensive board review.
- Rotating small groups of residents in the same level of training will start their Simulation Lab monthly.
- Hospital Grand Rounds occurs monthly- offered virtually so that those in the clinic and other outpatient rotations may attend.
Hospital M&M will also occur monthly and residents from all GME programs will rotate in presenting the case quarterly.
The FM inpatient team may also participate in Internal Medicine's Thursday and Friday Case Conferences from 12:30 p.m.–1:00 p.m.
Wednesday Didactic Afternoons:
Every Wednesday residents will have protected time from 1:00 p.m.–5:00 p.m. for educational activities. Activities include presentations by Core Faculty on topics from the AAFP Family Medicine Residency curriculum guidelines, hands-on procedure workshops, Journal Club, presentations from specialty faculty or community health agencies, pharmacy and behavioral health specialist lectures, and some resident-led sessions as well. Residents will actively participate in their own learning and teaching by leading Mortality and Morbidity discussions, Evidence-Based Medicine lectures, and a special intern case series. We strive to provide interactive team-based learning that is geared toward adult learners.
Additionally, we will have dedicated time built into didactic afternoons for residents to work on Quality Improvement projects and scholarly work with their faculty advisors, as well as to catch up on office tasks and do wellness activities together.
Simulation and Point of Care Ultrasound
The Family Medicine residency program at Mary Washington Healthcare is developing an interactive ultrasound curriculum that comprises a series of point-of-care ultrasound diagnostic and procedural skills integral to the practice of a Family Medicine Physician. We are also developing a Simulation lab and curriculum for learning and perfecting skills, procedures, and ACLS experience needed for well-rounded Family Medicine practice.