Importance of mentors and federal funding highlighted, as well as novel educational initiatives
TUESDAY, Jan. 12, 2016 (HealthDay News) — The American Academy of Family Physicians addressed several education and workforce items during 2015, including mentoring, federal funding, and educational initiatives.
Some of the top education and workforce issues in 2015 related to matching in family medicine. The rate of gradating medical students matching to family medicine residencies increased for the sixth consecutive year, with 3,060 students choosing the specialty. The rate of U.S. seniors choosing family medicine slowed in 2015 to 1,422, despite a 31 percent increase since 2009.
The authors of the report also described the link between federal funding for primary care residency in underserved areas and the likelihood of primary care physicians remaining in such areas. They discussed the need for additional primary care physicians and the development of a road map for meeting the nation’s current and future health care needs. Another topic that was highlighted in 2015 related to novel concepts in education, including a Family Medicine Accelerated Track program, a workshop that focused on cardiometabolic conditions, and continuing medical education delivered in a “flipped classroom” format.
“Ensuring that the right candidates receive the right motivation and support is critical to expanding the primary care physician workforce,” according to the report.
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