Ambulatory Training Program to Expand Procedural Skills in Primary Care

Area of Science:

• Primary Care Medicine
• Medical Education
• Ambulatory Procedures

Background:

• Outpatient procedures are crucial in primary care, yet procedural training is often lacking in medical curricula.
• Few primary care programs adequately incorporate training for essential ambulatory procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a 4-year procedural curriculum designed to enhance understanding of ambulatory procedures.
• To assess the impact of the curriculum on the number of procedures performed by physicians.

Main Methods:

• A curriculum focused on joint injections, contraceptive procedures, skin biopsies, and ultrasound was implemented over 4 years.
• 56 resident and 8 faculty physicians participated, with annual surveys and statistical modeling used to track changes.

Main Results:

• Physician comfort with procedure indications and performance significantly increased for both residents and faculty (P < .0001).
• Residents' comfort performing all measured procedures improved, and the mean number of procedures performed annually rose significantly.
• Faculty physicians also showed an increased number of procedures performed annually.

Conclusions:

• A longitudinal, ambulatory-based procedural curriculum effectively boosts physician understanding and confidence in performing primary care procedures.
• This enhanced training directly correlates with an increased volume of procedures conducted in outpatient settings.