Medical Students in Rural Practices
Yesterday's Star Tribune had a good story about a University of Minnesota program that places third-year medical students in rural practices, to work as a physician's apprentice. The program is "gaining national attention as a better way to train doctors."
The advantages for the student are that they gain continuous, integrated experience with a generational cross-section of patients, rather than seeing "cases" in a medical specialty context. They get front-line, hands-on experience, seem to learn at least as much as in the traditional curriculum, and don't develop the cynicism that now sometimes results.
The advantage for the rural physician is that they get some help, and the satisfaction of teaching.
The advantages for society are that more medical students may be attracted to rural practices, where the need is increasingly great; and that it may lower the cost of medical care. As the story says, "Rural care often emphasizes keeping patients well rather than treating them when they're sick, and providing continuous care -- sometimes across generations -- rather than the sporadic encounters with different doctors that define modern health care."
This is a great example of engagement: enriching teaching and learning, true involvement of community partners, and dealing with a crucial societal issue.