Practice management training in family practice residencies

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Services Research
• Family Medicine

Background:

• Surveys indicate a significant deficiency in practice management instruction within family practice residency programs.
• A majority of 1980 graduating third-year residents reported feeling inadequately trained in practice management.
• Thirty-five percent of these residents stated their programs lacked regularly scheduled practice management training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the perceived adequacy of practice management training in family practice residency programs.
• To quantify the extent to which graduates feel underprepared in practice management areas.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of recent surveys on family practice residency programs.
• Review of follow-up surveys conducted with family practice residency graduates.

Main Results:

• A substantial percentage of residents and graduates consistently report feeling underprepared in practice management.
• Data from four graduate follow-up surveys indicate 25% to 80% of graduates felt underprepared.
• A significant portion of residency programs provided no formal practice management training.

Conclusions:

• Family practice residency programs are not adequately preparing graduates in essential practice management skills.
• There is a critical need to enhance practice management education within residency curricula.
• Improving business and administrative training is vital for successful physician practice management.