Insights for New and Developing Rural Family Medicine Residency Programs

Area of Science:

• Graduate Medical Education
• Rural Health
• Family Medicine

Background:

• Rural family medicine residency programs (RFMRPs) face unique challenges impacting their sustainability and effectiveness.
• Despite these challenges, RFMRPs have shown success in addressing the rural physician shortage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore strategies used by RFMRP program directors nationwide to enhance program strength.
• To understand how RFMRPs adapt to the changing landscape of graduate medical education (GME).

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study involving semistructured telephone interviews with 19 RFMRP program directors.
• Interviews conducted in June-July 2020, audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed using thematic content analysis.

Main Results:

• Two primary themes emerged: 'community enrichment' and 'ability to evolve to meet demands'.
• Community enrichment subthemes include: evaluating local resources, securing community buy-in, establishing robust continuity clinics, identifying physician champions, and supporting faculty/preceptors.
• Evolving to meet demands subthemes include: aligning program mission with family medicine scope, redefining educational expectations, integrating longitudinal experiences, and innovating curriculum design.

Conclusions:

• Community enrichment and program evolution are crucial for successful RFMRPs.
• Findings offer insights into strategies for RFMRPs to meet evolving rural GME needs.
• Identifies best practices for the development and sustainability of RFMRPs.