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Curriculum

The curriculum of the Family Medicine Residency at Ball Memorial Hospital encompasses the traditional ACGME requirements and allows residents the flexibility to create a personalized educational experience.

Tracks are offered to maximize preparation for future practice while providing well-rounded training. Residents will select a track around March of their PGY1 year. Each track will meet the minimum requirements of the ACGME and ABFM. 

Tracks

  • Standard (outpatient/continuity emphasis/low OB)

    Our standard track is for physicians who are interested in learning full spectrum family medicine. The standard track is highly focused on continuity practice (with stretch goal of 2,000+ patients).

    Average of 2-3 half-days of clinic per week as a PGY1, 3-4 half-days as a PGY2, and 4-5 half-days as a PGY3 on all rotations other than inpatient critical care (ICU) and night float. 

    PGY 1 Year

    Block 1 - Inpatient Adult Medicine Weekday
    Block 2 - Inpatient Adult Medicine Weekend/Night Float 2
    Block 3 - ICU
    Block 4 - Family Medicine Inpatient
    Block 5 - Family Medicine Inpatient/Peds
    Block 6 - Peds
    Block 7 - OP Peds
    Block 8 - OB/Night Float 1
    Block 9 - OB/Night Float 4
    Block 10 - OB/Night Float 4
    Block 11 - ED/Night Float 3
    Block 12 - Cardio/Night Float 2
    Block 13 - FMRC

    PGY 2 Year

    Block 1 - Inpatient Adult Medicine Weekday
    Block 2 - Inpatient Adult Medicine Weekend/NF2
    Block 3 - OB
    Block 4 - Palliative/Night Float 4
    Block 5 - Night Float/Family Medicine Inpatient/OB/Peds
    Block 6 - Night Float/Family Medicine Inpatient/Amb/Peds
    Block 7 - ED
    Block 8 - Sports Medicine
    Block 9 - Derm
    Block 10 - Endo or Pulm
    Block 11 - Behavioral Health
    Block 12 - Elective
    Block 13 - Elective

    PGY 1 Year

    Block 1 - Family Medicine Inpatient
    Block 2 - Peds
    Block 3 - OP Ped/Night Float 1
    Block 4 - WMS H/Night Float 3
    Block 5 - Amb Chief
    Block 6 - Geriatrics
    Block 7 - Community/Population Health
    Block 8 - Ortho/Podiatry
    Block 9 - ENT/Ophthalmology
    Block 10 - Med selective
    Block 11 - Elective
    Block 12 - Elective
    Block 13 - Elective

    Med selective options include cardiology, endocrine, GI, infectious disease, nephrology, neurology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, pulmonology or rheumatology.

  • Maternity Care (with or without cesarean)

    Our high OB maternity care track is for physicians who are interested in pursuing an OB fellowship or actively practicing OB after residency. Residents seeking this track must apply and be selected.

    Average of 2-3 half-days of clinic per week as a PGY1 and 3-4 half-days as a PGY2 and PGY3 on all rotations other than inpatient critical care (ICU) and night float.

    PGY 1 Year

    Block 1 - Inpatient Adult Medicine Weekday
    Block 2 - Inpatient Adult Medicine Weekend/Night Float 2
    Block 3 - ICU
    Block 4 - Family Medicine Inpatient
    Block 5 - Family Medicine Inpatient/Peds
    Block 6 - Peds
    Block 7 - OP Peds
    Block 8 - OB/Night Float 1
    Block 9 - OB/Night Float 4
    Block 10 - OB/Night Float 4
    Block 11 - ED/Night Float 3
    Block 12 - Cardio/Night Float 2
    Block 13 - FMRC

    PGY 2 Year

    Block 1 - Inpatient Adult Medicine Weekday
    Block 2 - Inpatient Adult Medicine Weekend/Night Float 2
    Block 3 - OB
    Block 4 - Palliative/Night Float 4
    Block 5 - Night Float/OB/Peds/Family Medicine Inpatient
    Block 6 - Night Float/Amb/Peds/Family Medicine Inpatient
    Block 7 - ED
    Block 8 - Sports Medicine
    Block 9 - Derm
    Block 10 - OB
    Block 11 - Surgery
    Block 12 - Elective
    Block 13 - Elective

    PGY 3 Year

    Block 1 - Family Medicine Inpatient
    Block 2 - Peds
    Block 3 - OP Ped/Night Float 1
    Block 4 - WMS H/Night Float 3
    Block 5 - Amb Chief
    Block 6 - Geriatrics
    Block 7 - Community/Population Health
    Block 8 - Maternal-Fetal Medicine
    Block 9 - Neonatology
    Block 10 - Med selective
    Block 11 - Elective
    Block 12 - Elective
    Block 13 - Elective

    Med selective options include cardiology, endocrine, GI, infectious disease, nephrology, neurology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, pulmonology or rheumatology.

  • Acute Care Medicine

    Our acute care medicine track is for physicians who are interested in pursuing hospital, emergency, or sports medicine. Residents seeking this track must apply and be selected.

    Average of 2-3 half-days of clinic per week as a PGY1, PGY2, and PGY3 on all rotations other than inpatient critical care (ICU) and night float. 

    PGY 1 Year

    Block 1 - Inpatient Adult Medicine Weekday
    Block 2 - Inpatient Adult Medicine Weekend/Night Float 2
    Block 3 - ICU
    Block 4 - Family Medicine Inpatient
    Block 5 - Family Medicine Inpatient/Peds
    Block 6 - Peds
    Block 7 - OP Peds
    Block 8 - OB/Night Float 1
    Block 9 - OB/Night Float 4
    Block 10 - OB/Night Float 4
    Block 11 - ED/Night Float 3
    Block 12 - Cardio/Night Float 2
    Block 13 - FMRC

    PGY 2 Year

    Block 1 - Inpatient Adult Medicine Weekday
    Block 2 - Inpatient Adult Medicine Weekend/Night Float
    Block 3 - OB
    Block 4 - Palliative/Night Float 4
    Block 5 - Night Float/Family Medicine Inpatient/OB/Peds
    Block 6 - Night Float/Family Medicine Inpatient/Amb/Peds
    Block 7 - ED
    Block 8 - Sports Medicine
    Block 9 - Derm
    Block 10 - Acute Care Selective
    Block 11 - Acute Care Selective
    Block 12 - Elective
    Block 13 - Elective

    PGY 3 Year

    Block 1 - Family Medicine Inpatient
    Block 2 - Peds
    Block 3 - OP Ped/Night Float 1
    Block 4 - WMS H/Night Float 3
    Block 5 - Amb Chief
    Block 6 - Geriatrics
    Block 7 - Community/Population Health
    Block 8 - Ortho/Podiatry
    Block 9 - Med selective
    Block 10 - Med selective
    Block 11 - Elective
    Block 12 - Elective
    Block 13 - Elective

    Med selective options include cardiology, endocrine, GI, infectious disease, nephrology, neurology, physical medicine and rehabilitation, pulmonology or rheumatology. 

    Acute care selective options include ED, rural ED, hospitalist, critical care, PICU, sports med (local), anesthesia, radiology, interventional radiology and pain management.

Obstetrics

Osteopathic manipulative therapy

Call Schedule

Night Float

  • Seven weeks in PGY1, five weeks in PGY2, and three weeks in PGY3
  • Consists of shifts from 5 pm–7 am Monday through Friday
  • Phone triage, cross cover and admit OB/pediatrics/adult patients


Weekend Family Medicine call (throughout the year)

  • 24-hour shifts on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays
  • Phone triage, cross cover and admit OB/pediatric/adult patients


Jeopardy (Back-Up) Call (PGY2 and PGY3)

  • One week of call at a time for total of five weeks/year
  • Serve as back-up to PGY2/3 on call in case of illness, etc.

Didactics

  • Monday-Friday “Lunch and Learn” style educational activities including lecture, group discussion and gamification
  • Group Learning through real and simulated cases and discussions
  • Educational curriculum aligned with the ABFM exam blueprint
  • Opportunity to serve on our resident-led education committee
  • Procedure training workshops geared to PGY1 & PGY2 are integrated into curriculum

Procedure Training

Procedure training is staffed by faculty who provide hands-on learning. All residents, regardless of year in training, have the privilege of performing procedures on their clinic patients. We provide the opportunity to learn the following procedures:

  • C-sections (taught by OB physicians)
  • Casting/Splinting
  • Central Line Placement
  • Cervical Induction Balloon Placement
  • Circumcision
  • Colonoscopy
  • Colposcopy
  • Digital Block & Toenail Surgery
  • Endometrial Biopsy
  • Exercise Testing/Treadmill
  • Eye Foreign Body Removal
  • Hemorrhoid Banding & Excision/Anoscopy
  • Intubation
  • IUD Placement
  • IUPC/FSE/AROM/Cervical Check/Leopolds
  • Joint Injection/Aspiration
  • Knot Tying/Cyst Removal/I & D
  • Lumbar Puncture
  • Microscopy
  • Nasolaryngoscopy
  • Nexplanon
  • OB Laceration Repair
  • OB Ultrasound
  • Operative OB Delivery/Shoulder Dystocia
  • POCUS
  • Skin Biopsy/Cryo/Laceration Repair/Local Anesthesia
  • Spirometry
  • Vaginal deliveries
  • Vasectomy

This training is staffed by Family Medicine faculty who provide hands-on learning. All residents, regardless of year in training, have the privilege of performing procedures on their clinic patients.

Pathways of Distinction

Our residents have the opportunity to enhance their residency experience through participation in one or more Pathways of Distinction. These pathways represent a collection of activities, rotations, reading, and projects that provide additional educational opportunities for enhancement of their education. Residents who complete the requirements under a given pathway will be recognized at graduation for their completion.

  • Leadership
  • Women’s Health (Including Surgical Obstetrics)
  • Sports Medicine
  • Global Health
  • Behavioral Health