Understanding Population Health Management Practices Among Family Medicine Residency Programs

Population health management is a systematic approach to ensuring that all members of a given population receive appropriate preventative, chronic, and transitional care. It emphasizes addressing health inequities and the social determinants that influence health and related outcomes in communities served by family physicians. This study examines the current practices of family medicine residency programs in teaching population health management and the use of clinical data registries for their primary clinic sites.

Data were collected through a survey conducted by the Council of Academic Family Medicine Educational Research Alliance (CERA) from September 26 to October 30, 2023. The survey targeted program directors of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education accredited family medicine residency programs, with a final response rate of 37.90% (271/715).

We found significant variability in the clinical data registries and population-based reports provided to residents. Of the residency programs, 29.52% provided both resident-specific and practice-level panel data, while 12.92% did not provide regular data reports. Clinical quality and patient satisfaction were the most common elements in reports. Programs varied in the frequency and dedicated time for population health management, with many programs citing resource constraints.

The findings highlight the need for standardized education and clinical systems to integrate population health into resident training. Ensuring consistent, accurate, and actionable data can enhance the quality and value of care and prepare residents for future practice in value-based care environments.