Apply Now for STFM Pilots Aimed at Improved Training

Opportunities Ahead for Family Medicine Departments

January 23, 2019 07:30 am News Staff – Heads up to departments of family medicine across the country, as well medical schools with departments that administer family medicine clerkships: You may be interested in participating in some upcoming pilot projects collectively called Building Better Clinical Training Experiences: A Learning Collaborative.

The Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM) has issued a call for applications for this initiative, which aims to increase the pool of community-based preceptors and improve the quality of training at ambulatory care sites. The three pilots are part of a large interprofessional preceptor expansion initiative.

There's no time to waste, as the application deadline is Feb. 22.

Check out these brief descriptions and access more details online.

Project Descriptions

In project one, family medicine departments, in cooperation with other medical specialties or professions, will pilot standardized student onboarding resources and processes. As many as five family medicine departments will be selected as pilot sites to test resources, including

a student passport that details screenings and training received in various areas,
student resources that will help them integrate quickly and seamlessly into their clerkship sites,
online training modules that cover particular aspects of patient care, and
curriculum intended to help students meet goals and objectives outlined by the Association of American Medical Colleges.(www.aamc.org)

Project goals are to ease administrative burden on preceptors, help preceptors integrate students into the practice, increase student value to practices and aid teaching programs in the administration of clinical clerkship rotations.

Project two(stfm.org) spotlights the preceptor side by piloting standardized preceptor onboarding and engagement resources. Goals are to

ease the administrative burden on community preceptors at ambulatory sites by standardizing documentation,
engage community preceptors,
encourage and reward teaching, and
improve the quality of training at ambulatory sites.

Participating departments will use tools provided by STFM to enhance preceptor onboarding and engagement experiences, participate in a learning collaborative, conduct standardized measurement of the impact of the interventions on preceptors' administrative burden, allow site visits by project leaders and disseminate project results.

Learn More at Upcoming Events

Interested but still have questions? Participate in one of two free webinars on Jan. 25 to learn more. Register now for the first webinar,(register.gotowebinar.com) which runs from noon to 1 p.m. CST, or the second event,(register.gotowebinar.com) scheduled for 3-4 p.m. CST.

Those attending STFM's Conference on Medical Student Education,(www.stfm.org) Jan. 31-Feb 3 in Jacksonville, Fla., can get more details by attending the "Breakfast Table" Q&A on Feb. 2 at 7:30 a.m.

Project three has been designed for family medicine departments that want to pilot onboarding resources and processes for both students and preceptors -- essentially combining the work of projects one and two.

All the goals and resources outlined for the first two projects are applicable to project three.

Other Important Details

Apply now for project one, two or three; applicants will start the process by logging in (use the arrow in the upper right hand corner) or by registering to create an account.

All pilot sites will receive free access to onboarding resources, implementation strategies and guidance, and paid attendance at a learning collaborative meeting. Pilot sites will receive recognition in STFM publications, and will have opportunities to present and publish their results.

Funding for all three projects is provided by the American Board of Family Medicine Foundation.

Pilot sites will be announced in mid-March and all projects will begin on April 2. Successful applicants are required to attend a learning collaborative on Oct. 24-25 in Kanas City, Mo.

Questions? Contact Melissa Abuel at STFM by phone at (913) 800-5593 or by email.