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Curriculum

The curriculum of the Family Medicine Residency at Ball Memorial Hospital encompasses the traditional ACGME requirements and allows residents the flexibility to create a personalized educational experience.

Tracks are offered to maximize preparation for future practice while providing well-rounded training. Residents will select a track around March of their PGY1 year. Each track will meet the minimum requirements of the ACGME and ABFM. 

Tracks

Our standard track is for physicians who are interested in learning full spectrum family medicine. The standard track is highly focused on continuity practice (with stretch goal of 2,000+ patients).

Average of 2-3 half-days of clinic per week as a PGY1, 3-4 half-days as a PGY2, and 4-5 half-days as a PGY3 on all rotations other than inpatient critical care (ICU) and night float. 

PGY 1 Year

Block 1 - Inpatient Adult Medicine Weekday
Block 2 - Inpatient Adult Medicine Weekend/Night Float 2
Block 3 - ICU
Block 4 - Family Medicine Inpatient
Block 5 - Family Medicine Inpatient/Peds
Block 6 - Peds
Block 7 - OP Peds
Block 8 - OB/Night Float 1
Block 9 - OB/Night Float 4
Block 10 - OB/Night Float 4
Block 11 - ED/Night Float 3
Block 12 - Cardio/Night Float 2
Block 13 - FMRC

PGY 2 Year

Block 1 - Inpatient Adult Medicine Weekday
Block 2 - Inpatient Adult Medicine Weekend/NF2
Block 3 - OB
Block 4 - Palliative/Night Float 4
Block 5 - Night Float/Family Medicine Inpatient/OB/Peds
Block 6 - Night Float/Family Medicine Inpatient/Amb/Peds
Block 7 - ED
Block 8 - Sports Medicine
Block 9 - Derm
Block 10 - Endo or Pulm
Block 11 - Behavioral Health
Block 12 - Elective
Block 13 - Elective

PGY 1 Year

Block 1 - Family Medicine Inpatient
Block 2 - Peds
Block 3 - OP Ped/Night Float 1
Block 4 - WMS H/Night Float 3
Block 5 - Amb Chief
Block 6 - Geriatrics
Block 7 - Community/Population Health
Block 8 - Ortho/Podiatry
Block 9 - ENT/Ophthalmology
Block 10 - Med selective
Block 11 - Elective
Block 12 - Elective
Block 13 - Elective

Med selective options include cardiology, endocrine, GI, infectious disease, nephrology, neurology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, pulmonology or rheumatology.

Our high OB maternity care track is for physicians who are interested in pursuing an OB fellowship or actively practicing OB after residency. Residents seeking this track must apply and be selected.

Average of 2-3 half-days of clinic per week as a PGY1 and 3-4 half-days as a PGY2 and PGY3 on all rotations other than inpatient critical care (ICU) and night float.

PGY 1 Year

Block 1 - Inpatient Adult Medicine Weekday
Block 2 - Inpatient Adult Medicine Weekend/Night Float 2
Block 3 - ICU
Block 4 - Family Medicine Inpatient
Block 5 - Family Medicine Inpatient/Peds
Block 6 - Peds
Block 7 - OP Peds
Block 8 - OB/Night Float 1
Block 9 - OB/Night Float 4
Block 10 - OB/Night Float 4
Block 11 - ED/Night Float 3
Block 12 - Cardio/Night Float 2
Block 13 - FMRC

PGY 2 Year

Block 1 - Inpatient Adult Medicine Weekday
Block 2 - Inpatient Adult Medicine Weekend/Night Float 2
Block 3 - OB
Block 4 - Palliative/Night Float 4
Block 5 - Night Float/OB/Peds/Family Medicine Inpatient
Block 6 - Night Float/Amb/Peds/Family Medicine Inpatient
Block 7 - ED
Block 8 - Sports Medicine
Block 9 - Derm
Block 10 - OB
Block 11 - Surgery
Block 12 - Elective
Block 13 - Elective

PGY 3 Year

Block 1 - Family Medicine Inpatient
Block 2 - Peds
Block 3 - OP Ped/Night Float 1
Block 4 - WMS H/Night Float 3
Block 5 - Amb Chief
Block 6 - Geriatrics
Block 7 - Community/Population Health
Block 8 - Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Block 9 - Neonatology
Block 10 - Med selective
Block 11 - Elective
Block 12 - Elective
Block 13 - Elective

Med selective options include cardiology, endocrine, GI, infectious disease, nephrology, neurology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, pulmonology or rheumatology.

Our acute care medicine track is for physicians who are interested in pursuing hospital, emergency, or sports medicine. Residents seeking this track must apply and be selected.

Average of 2-3 half-days of clinic per week as a PGY1, PGY2, and PGY3 on all rotations other than inpatient critical care (ICU) and night float. 

PGY 1 Year

Block 1 - Inpatient Adult Medicine Weekday
Block 2 - Inpatient Adult Medicine Weekend/Night Float 2
Block 3 - ICU
Block 4 - Family Medicine Inpatient
Block 5 - Family Medicine Inpatient/Peds
Block 6 - Peds
Block 7 - OP Peds
Block 8 - OB/Night Float 1
Block 9 - OB/Night Float 4
Block 10 - OB/Night Float 4
Block 11 - ED/Night Float 3
Block 12 - Cardio/Night Float 2
Block 13 - FMRC

PGY 2 Year

Block 1 - Inpatient Adult Medicine Weekday
Block 2 - Inpatient Adult Medicine Weekend/Night Float
Block 3 - OB
Block 4 - Palliative/Night Float 4
Block 5 - Night Float/Family Medicine Inpatient/OB/Peds
Block 6 - Night Float/Family Medicine Inpatient/Amb/Peds
Block 7 - ED
Block 8 - Sports Medicine
Block 9 - Derm
Block 10 - Acute Care Selective
Block 11 - Acute Care Selective
Block 12 - Elective
Block 13 - Elective

PGY 3 Year

Block 1 - Family Medicine Inpatient
Block 2 - Peds
Block 3 - OP Ped/Night Float 1
Block 4 - WMS H/Night Float 3
Block 5 - Amb Chief
Block 6 - Geriatrics
Block 7 - Community/Population Health
Block 8 - Ortho/Podiatry
Block 9 - Med selective
Block 10 - Med selective
Block 11 - Elective
Block 12 - Elective
Block 13 - Elective

Med selective options include cardiology, endocrine, GI, infectious disease, nephrology, neurology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, pulmonology or rheumatology. 

Acute care selective options include ED, rural ED, hospitalist, critical care, PICU, sports med (local), anesthesia, radiology, interventional radiology and pain management.

Obstetrics

Osteopathic manipulative therapy

Call Schedule

Night Float

  • Seven weeks in PGY1, five weeks in PGY2, and three weeks in PGY3
  • Consists of shifts from 5 pm–7 am Monday through Friday
  • Phone triage, cross cover and admit OB/pediatrics/adult patients


Weekend Family Medicine call (throughout the year)

  • 24-hour shifts on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays
  • Phone triage, cross cover and admit OB/pediatric/adult patients


Jeopardy (Back-Up) Call (PGY2 and PGY3)

  • One week of call at a time for total of five weeks/year
  • Serve as back-up to PGY2/3 on call in case of illness, etc.

Didactics

  • Monday-Friday “Lunch and Learn” style educational activities including lecture, group discussion and gamification
  • Group Learning through real and simulated cases and discussions
  • Educational curriculum aligned with the ABFM exam blueprint
  • Opportunity to serve on our resident-led education committee
  • Procedure training workshops geared to PGY1 & PGY2 are integrated into curriculum

Procedure Training

Procedure training is staffed by faculty who provide hands-on learning. All residents, regardless of year in training, have the privilege of performing procedures on their clinic patients. We provide the opportunity to learn the following procedures:

  • C-sections (taught by OB physicians)
  • Casting/Splinting
  • Central Line Placement
  • Cervical Induction Balloon Placement
  • Circumcision
  • Colonoscopy
  • Colposcopy
  • Digital Block & Toenail Surgery
  • Endometrial Biopsy
  • Exercise Testing/Treadmill
  • Eye Foreign Body Removal
  • Hemorrhoid Banding & Excision/Anoscopy
  • Intubation
  • IUD Placement
  • IUPC/FSE/AROM/Cervical Check/Leopolds
  • Joint Injection/Aspiration
  • Knot Tying/Cyst Removal/I & D
  • Lumbar Puncture
  • Microscopy
  • Nasolaryngoscopy
  • Nexplanon
  • OB Laceration Repair
  • OB Ultrasound
  • Operative OB Delivery/Shoulder Dystocia
  • POCUS
  • Skin Biopsy/Cryo/Laceration Repair/Local Anesthesia
  • Spirometry
  • Vaginal deliveries
  • Vasectomy

This training is staffed by Family Medicine faculty who provide hands-on learning. All residents, regardless of year in training, have the privilege of performing procedures on their clinic patients.

Pathways of Distinction

Our residents have the opportunity to enhance their residency experience through participation in one or more Pathways of Distinction. These pathways represent a collection of activities, rotations, reading, and projects that provide additional educational opportunities for enhancement of their education. Residents who complete the requirements under a given pathway will be recognized at graduation for their completion.

  • Leadership
  • Women’s Health (Including Surgical Obstetrics)
  • Sports Medicine
  • Global Health
  • Behavioral Health