The birth of the blended curriculum

In the struggle to survive economically, our family practice residency program developed a new curriculum that incorporated elements of both the conventional rotational model and the newer longitudinal mode. We also created unique elements: immersion weeks, subspecialty clinics, and Tuesday specials. Immersions weeks provide focused exposures to specialty areas. The resident brings learned skills back to the family practice clinic (FPC). Subspecialty clinics in the FPC bring specialists to the residents and to the residents' patients for reinforcement of learned skills. Tuesday specials provide longitudinal experiences in geriatric, community, and occupational medicine. The blended curriculum has been a success with both Residency Assistance Program consultants and the Residency Review Committee reviewer. It has also increased residents' availability to see patients in the FPC and increased FPC income.