Primary care residency training: the first five years

The training of physicians for the delivery of primary care is becoming a national priority. The period of residency training is viewed by many as the focal point for educational change to meet this demand. The Residency Program in Social Medicine at Montefiore Hospital and Medical Center was begun in 1970 and offers primary care residency training toward board eligibility in internal medicine, pediatrics, or family practice. The pairing concept of scheduling guarantees the resident a continuity of care experience for his own panel of patients at the ambulatory site. The hospital and the ambulatory site share the cost of residents' salaries. Primary care curriculum for clinical and clinical-support areas, delivery-site design, and faculty-utilization models must all be uniquely suited to the training of the future primary care practitioner. Resident recruitment and selection and the involvement of residents in the management of the residency program are crucial features of program success and training for future practice.