Family medicine training in Venezuela

Family practice residency training in Venezuela is designed to prepare physicians to meet the health needs of the nation at a time of increasing societal concerns for the quality and cost of care. Since 1982, nine residency programs have been created throughout the country. Each two-year program is based in an ambulatory care setting. Entering physicians have completed an internship and have a minimum of two years practice experience. Graduates have been prepared to continue a socially active role to promote the new specialty. Training emphasizes community aspects of clinical practice, similar to the hopes of community-oriented primary care in the United States. Additional emphases include exposure to clinicians from other specialties, family aspects of patient care, working with a health care team, completion of a research project, and structured courses of theory in areas such as public health, behavioral medicine, and research methodology. Although hampered by economic constraints, the movement's intensely committed leaders have successfully captured political and public support.