The “Family Centers” Outpatient Center – Residents’ Primary Care Continuity Clinic
Our residents provide continuity primary care under the supervision of full-time faculty at a brand-new Federally Qualified Health Clinic located at 75 Holly Hill Lane (a 5-minute drive from the hospital). The clinic is an integral part of “Family Centers;” a nonprofit organization that offers education, health, and human services to children, adults, and families in Fairfield and neighboring counties -- regardless of ability to pay. As such, our patients have access to the Family Centers’ comprehensive network of behavioral health, dental, and human services. The clinic is a newly renovated, fully equipped modern facility that also houses Geriatric and Pediatric practices, as well as providers with special training in Women’s and Reproductive health, HIV and Tuberculosis Care, and Immigrant and Refugee Health. Yale-affiliated Internal Medicine sub-specialists also come to the health center. During their 2-week ambulatory block, residents spend two or three half-days in the Women’s Health clinic and in sub-specialty clinics.
In sum, “under one roof,” our residents are exposed to a wide range of patients and all aspects of ambulatory care – and, along with the clinic staff and all of the center’s providers, serve both an academic mission and a purpose to help those in need.
Additionally, residents have the opportunity to spend half-days at private physicians’ practices (Neurology, Wound Care, Concierge Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine, etc.).
Outpatient Medicine Block Schedule
For PGY II/III residents: For every six weeks of inpatient, elective and/or vacation time, residents have a dedicated 2-week block in the Outpatient Center (6+2). Yale medical students also rotate in the Outpatient Center and are supervised directly by faculty
Outpatient Conferences
Daily 30-minute morning conferences including Electrocardiogram (ECG Conference), Computed Tomography (CT) Scan Reading/General Surgery Lectures; Geriatrics, Palliative Care, Pulmonary Medicine, Women’s Health, and General Internal Medicine. Senior residents are also involved in giving ambulatory conference lectures during their clinic block. Two-hour small-group didactic/discussion sessions are held every Wednesday afternoon (with food). Each session is dedicated to an outpatient topic and incorporates pre-session reading and listening (“Curbsiders” podcast).
Electronic Medical Records
Greenwich Hospital and Yale New Haven Hospital utilize the same Epic electronic medical record system for both inpatient and outpatient rotations.
Evaluation and Feedback
Clinical examinations, patient interviews, bedside interactions and chart notes are evaluated by faculty with continuous feedback.
Schedule
The Outpatient Center (Clinic) schedule is set by the Associate Program Director/Director of Ambulatory Care, who will grant requests for time off for important events on a case-by-case basis, typically requiring 6 weeks advance notice before the absence and “payback” after the absence to the Outpatient Center during a residents’ elective blocks to ensure the total time spent training in the Outpatient Center meets program requirements.
Ambulatory-Research Rotation
To allow for more outpatient experiences, an ambulatory-research elective has been added for PGY-II/III. There will be two (2) two-week blocks, one in each half of the year where residents will do an outpatient elective in a desired subspecialty. With program director approval, this rotation can also be utilized for research and academic purposes to work on posters and publications.
