An ambulatory medical education program for internal medicine residents

Teaching the fundamentals of ambulatory medicine has many well known difficulties. An education program with specific topics covered and modeled after continuing medical education programs for practicing physicians was instituted for residents in a university hospital clinic and was evaluated. The program was effective in improving the residents' knowledge, in enhancing their attitudes toward the clinic, and in improving their performance of influenza vaccinations. No adverse effects of the program were found. This approach, in which a curriculum is carefully defined and participation of the house staff is required, makes the ambulatory medical education process more accountable for what is taught.