A community-oriented primary care experience for medical students and family practice residents.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Medical students and residents are more likely to understand the health needs of a community if they have community-based practical experience during their training. This report describes a community-oriented educational experience for medical students and family practice residents in rural North Carolina.

METHODS

Medical students and residents from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and residents from Asheville spend one month in a small community in western North Carolina. During the month-long experience, these trainees live in the community and provide clinical care to patients. They also meet with local health officials, service agencies, and community organizations to learn about the community's health system. The trainees then prepare a written report about the community's health system, a community health problem identified by the trainee, and a proposal to solve the problem.

RESULTS

Trainees report that the rotation provides a unique opportunity to understand the health system of a community. Some of the trainee-proposed solutions to problems have been implemented by community leaders.

CONCLUSION

A community-oriented primary care rotation can provide students and residents with an important understanding of the health system and health problems of a community.