Resident partnerships: a tool for enhancing ambulatory training.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

This study examined resident partnerships and their effect on graduates' practice patterns.

METHODS

The study authors surveyed graduates from a residency program that used resident partnerships. We also surveyed the graduates' current practice partners, and they served as a comparison group.

RESULTS

The graduates' response rate was 86%, and their current practice partners' response rate was 61%. Graduates from a partnership program rated themselves better trained for outpatient medicine and more comfortable communicating with other physicians and working within a patient care team; they were also slightly less likely to practice inpatient medicine. Reported benefits during residency included enhanced availability for continuity clinics, more emotional and intellectual support, and more flexible work schedules.

CONCLUSIONS

Graduates valued partnerships during their training and reported being better prepared to work with other physicians in ambulatory settings.