Preceptor Expansion Initiative Takes Multitactic Approach to Addressing Shortage of Clinical Training Sites

In late 2015, the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM) was charged with Family Medicine for America's Health's (FMAHealth) Workforce Education and Development Core Team's task of identifying, developing, and disseminating resources for community preceptors. The charge from FMAHealth came at a time when STFM was discussing strategies to address the critical shortage of clinical training sites for medical students. STFM hosted a summit to identify the most significant reasons for the shortage of community preceptors and shape the priorities, leadership, and investments needed to ensure the ongoing education of the primary care workforce. Summit participants were asked to propose solutions to achieve the following aims: (1) decrease the percentage of primary care clerkship directors who report difficulty finding clinical preceptor sites, and (2) increase the percentage of students completing clerkships at high-functioning sites. The outcome of the summit was an action plan with five tactics that are being implemented now: Tactic 1: Work with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to revise student documentation guidelines. Tactic 2: Integrate interprofessional/interdisciplinary education into ambulatory primary care settings through integrated clinical clerkships. Tactic 3: Develop a standardized onboarding process for students and preceptors and integrate students into the work of ambulatory primary care settings in useful and authentic ways. Tactic 4: Develop educational collaboratives across departments, specialties, professions, and institutions to improve administrative efficiencies for preceptors. Tactic 5: Promote productivity incentive plans that include teaching and develop a culture of teaching in clinical settings.