A network model for decentralized family practice residency training.

The organization of departments and divisions of family practice in a majority of medical schools in the United States has facilitated a recent trend toward increasing numbers of university affiliations with family practice residency programs in community hospitals. Many difficult issues arise when such affiliations are explored and developed. To date, the literature is meager on this important subject. This paper describes the elements of a network model for decentralized family practice residency training which has been in operation at the University of California Davis for over four years. Common issues are outlined, together with the various advantages of affiliation to the community hospital and the university. An active partnership between the medical school and community through a network of affiliated residency programs can effectively contribute to the quality of medical education and patient care on a regional basis and at the same time directly address the problem of physician maldistribution.