Recruiting Quarterbacks: Strategies for Revitalizing Training in Primary Care Internal Medicine

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Workforce Studies
• Primary Care Medicine

Background:

• Current U.S. primary care faces significant workforce shortages.
• There is a declining interest in primary care residency training, particularly in internal medicine.
• These challenges echo circumstances from the early 1970s when modern adult primary care emerged.

Purpose of the Study:

• To draw parallels between current primary care challenges and those of the early 1970s.
• To explore lessons learned and solutions from the past to address contemporary issues in primary care.
• To re-engage physicians in the primary care mission through effective training and practice models.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of primary care internal medicine residency tracks.
• Examining the University of New Mexico's primary care track against the 1973 Massachusetts General Hospital track.
• Reviewing historical strategies for primary care practice and learner engagement.

Main Results:

• Historical data and solutions from the 1970s offer valuable insights for current primary care.
• Specific residency program models can be adapted to current needs.
• Rebranding primary care physicians as "quarterbacks" highlights required skills and responsibilities.

Conclusions:

• Applying lessons from the 1970s can help overcome current primary care workforce shortages.
• Reforming primary care training and practice is essential for physician engagement.
• Advancements in team-based care, health IT, and payment models can restore primary care's appeal.