Why we should reduce family practice training to two years

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Primary Care
• Health Policy

Background:

• Family practice (FP) faces declining resident recruitment and challenges in maintaining broad clinical skills.
• Current FP training may not optimally prepare physicians for the evolving demands of ambulatory care.
• Physician salaries in FP have stagnated, impacting career attractiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a restructuring of family practice residency training from three years to two years.
• To enhance the focus of FP training on ambulatory care and continuity patient management.
• To explore potential benefits including reduced resident debt and societal cost savings.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual proposal for curriculum reform in family practice residency.
• Analysis of current challenges in FP training and practice.
• Recommendations for curriculum adjustments, including reduced inpatient/specialty rotations and increased ambulatory time.

Main Results:

• A two-year FP curriculum could increase program adaptability and cost-effectiveness.
• Reduced training duration may lead to decreased resident debt.
• Potential for societal savings in graduate medical education funding.

Conclusions:

• Shortening FP residency to two years, with an optional additional year for specialization, could revitalize the field.
• This model would better align training with the core strengths of family practice in ambulatory settings.
• The proposed changes aim to make family practice a more attractive and sustainable career path.