Electives - Family Medicine

Local, Rural Preceptorship in Family Medicine

Elective Number: 1404 (away) Not Available 2007-2008

Rotation Supervisor: Dr. Steven Heim

Designated Signer: Wanda Hudson, McKim 3161 - (will arrange with rotation preceptor)

Evaluation should be given to: Preceptor

Duration: 4 weeks

Time and Place to Report: TBA

Attendance: Attendance at elective activities is mandatory.

• Anyone who is ill or has a personal or family emergency must contact Student Affairs and the Attending on Service.
• Students are allowed to take off up to 1 day per week to interview between November 1 and February 1.
  • Specific days missed must be approved by the Attending on Service.

Number of students per rotation: 1 per site 

Course Description: To provide students the opportunity to practice in a family practice office located in a rural area close to Charlottesville, primarily Stony Creek in Nelson County. The student will participate in patient care under the supervision of a board certified/eligible family physician. The student will gain an understanding of the community and what it is like to practice in a rural community. The site is close enough for commuting. Visiting students should follow the directions in their acceptance email to schedule CARECAST training.

1. The student will demonstrate appropriate patient care in an outpatient setting:
   • perform a history;
   • perform a focused physical exam;
   • develop a differential diagnosis;
   • develop a management plan, including ordering appropriate diagnostic studies, drug therapies, physical therapy, psychotherapy, etc.;
   • incorporate psychosocial issues in approach to patient care;
   • demonstrate ability to verbally present findings and management plan to supervising physician;
   • record history and physical findings, and assessment and management plan in written record using the "SOAP" format;
   • perform office-based procedures, such as laceration repair and skin lesion removal, under the supervision of the attending family physician;
   • read independently about patient problems seen in the office.
2. Student will be able to describe the special nature of rural family practice:
   • describe the community in terms of demographics, local economy, local culture and environment;
   • identify any health literacy barriers;
   • identify a variety of cultural barriers to health as seen in the practice setting;
   • identify community resources for meeting health needs of individual patients;
   • describe the rewards and challenges of rural family practice.
3. (optional, depending on site) Student will have an opportunity to participate in inpatient care.
4. (optional, depending on site) Student will have the opportunity to participate in obstetric care.