Developing a Telemedicine Curriculum for a Family Medicine Residency

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Primary Care
• Digital Health

Background:

• The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated telemedicine adoption in primary care.
• Residency programs often lack formal telemedicine training.
• This study addresses the need for structured telemedicine education for residents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement a telemedicine curriculum for a family medicine residency.
• To evaluate the impact of this curriculum on resident confidence and interest in telemedicine.

Main Methods:

• A telemedicine visit workflow process map was created.
• A 50-minute didactic lecture and quick-reference guide on telemedicine best practices were developed.
• Pre- and post-intervention surveys assessed resident confidence (N=24).

Main Results:

• Confidence increased in virtual physical exams (P=.04), documentation (P=.03), and virtual attending consultations (P=.04).
• Resident interest in post-residency telemedicine use also rose.
• A 58% response rate (14 residents) was achieved.

Conclusions:

• Telemedicine necessitates distinct clinical skills.
• Formal telemedicine education enhances resident confidence and interest.
• Primary care residency programs should integrate telemedicine training for better graduate preparedness.