The Primary Care Scholars Consortium offers medical students a quality summer training opportunity during the summer between first and second years of medical school. This program is offered to Indiana University School of Medicine students (the only exceptions are those students applying for the MCRH Hoosier Preceptorship Program) interested in an underserved medicine experience within Family Medicine, Pediatrics or Internal Medicine. The goals of the program will be achieved through matching students with preceptors practicing in a rural or urban community-based setting that are serviced by the various sponsors in the state of Indiana. The Primary Care Scholars Consortium Program is coordinated by the Indiana University Department of Family Medicine in conjunction with Cinergy Foundation, Clarian Partners Family Medicine Preceptorship Program, Indiana Academy of Family Physicians Foundation (IAFP/F), Midwest Center for Rural Health (MCRH), Union Hospital and South Bend St. Joseph Hospital. All these organizations have generously contributed financially to support and make this Consortium program possible.
Individual Program Descriptions
Guidelines for Preclinical Student Experiences
Guidelines for Preclinical Preceptors
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible for the program, participants must have successfully
completed their first year of medical school. Students must be Indiana
residents (except those students applying for the Midwest Center for
Rural Health Hoosier Preceptorship Program). Student applicants will be
evaluated on their interest in doing a rural or urban experience and
their suitability for this experience. Priority will be given to
students who have given commitment to underserved communities, National
Health Service Corps, Indiana Primary Care Scholarship recipients and
those who are from rural or urban communities in the community-based
settings serviced by the various sponsors in the state of Indiana.
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Individual Program Descriptions
Cinergy Foundation Rural Family Medicine
Preceptorship Program
The Cinergy Foundation Rural Family Medicine Preceptorship Program is
administered by the Indiana University School of Medicine (IUSM)
Department of Family Medicine in association with Cinergy Foundation,
Inc., a charitable organization supported with funds from PSI Energy,
Inc. The goal of the program is to offer an eight-week summer rural
Family Medicine training opportunity to first year medical students at
the Indiana University School of Medicine. The goals of the program will
be achieved through matching students with preceptors practicing in a
rural community-based setting that are serviced by PSI in the state of
Indiana. A total of five participants will be selected, each to receive
$3,000 for the eight-week experience. See contact below for IUSM.
Clarian Partners Family Medicine
Preceptorship Program
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Deaconess Hospital Family Medicine
Preceptorship Program
The Deaconess Hospital Family Medicine Preceptorship Program is
sponsored by Deaconess Hospital, Evansville, IN. This program is
available for IUSM first year student (preference given to Evansville
Center students and students in Southern Indiana). The program's purpose
is to introduce first year medical students to a summer experience in
family medicine and underserved populations in and around the Evansville
area. This experience includes hands on training at various sites. A
total of two students will be selected, each to receive $3,000 for the
eight-week experience. Contact: Lori Johnson, Program Assistant
Deaconess Hospital Family Practice Residency Program (812) 450-2895
E-mail: lori_southern@deaconess.com
Indiana Academy of Family Physicians
Foundation Adopt-A-Student Program
The Indiana Academy of Family Physicians Foundation sponsors this
program to promote family medicine as a career choice. Students will
experience the demands and management of a family practice, day to day
activities of the family physician as well as their lifestyle and
responsibilities to the community. Up to four participants will be
selected, each to receive $1,500 for the four-week experience. Contact:
Debbie Cornelius, Development Coordinator IAFP Foundation
Adopt-A-Student Program (800) 556-3757 or (317) 856-3757 E-mail:
dcornelius@iquest.net
Midwest Center for Rural Health Hoosier
Preceptorship Program
The Hoosier Preceptorship Program is sponsored by the Midwest Center for
Rural Health and Union Hospital. This program is available for U.S.
residents enrolled in medical schools in the United States. The
program's purpose is to introduce first year medical students to a
summer experience in rural family medicine and underserved populations
in Indiana. This experience includes hands on training at various rural
sites. A total of six to eight students will be selected, each to
receive $3,000 for the eight-week experience. Contact: Joyce Strange,
Program Assistant Midwest Center for Rural Health (812) 238-7479 E-mail:
mcrhjes@uhhg.org
South Bend St. Joseph Hospital
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Guidelines for Preclinical Student Experiences
The Consortium membership assumes no liability for preclinical medical
students (first-year students) placed through this program. In addition,
the Consortium membership acknowledges that the Family Medicine Scholars
Consortium programs are not liable for any damages arising out of the
Program and defends and indemnifies the Consortium membership from any
liability.
The Family Medicine Scholars Consortium Program, funded through generous gifts by the Cinergy Foundation, Inc., Clarian Partners Family Medicine Preceptorship Program, Deaconess Hospital, Indiana Academy of Family Physicians Foundation, Midwest Center for Rural Health and Union Hospital and South Bend St. Joseph Hospital, offers first-year medical students (the summer between their first- and second-year of study) preclinical experiences in the discipline of Family Medicine. Participants will:
- Spend time with Family Physicians who will serve as role models in providing early exposure to rural or urban medicine;
- Gain exposure to biomedical rural or urban research that includes family, community and economic factors influencing an individual's health in a rural or urban setting;
- Understand the role of hospital, allied health agencies and health care professionals that complement the work of Family Physicians; and,
- Improve the health of citizens in rural and urban areas of Indiana, in general, and beyond.
Students will be taking a primarily observational role throughout the
training. Students should not participate in invasive or "hands on"
procedures, unless the site and/or preceptor assumes liability for the
student. Examples of more active student participation can include, but
is not limited to, taking patient histories and/or checking vital signs
(with preceptor follow-up). Additionally, the student's prior
experience, skill level, knowledge and the preceptor's level of comfort
with and confidence in the student's ability will determine the degree
of "hands on" experience that the student may receive.
Malpractice coverage for first-year medical students placed through the
program is usually not necessary since the experience is preclinical,
involving the community, patient assessment and education. However, the
following should be considered while the student is at the site:
- The student's role will be that of an observer and not an acute care provider;
- The student will be closely supervised by the preceptor in all patient care activities;
- The student will be properly identified; and
- Notes in the medical record will reflect the student's role, if appropriate.
If the coordinator and/or preceptor decide that some form of
malpractice coverage is necessary, the site policy should be reviewed to
determine if students are included under the current policy or if a
rider may be added (at a small additional cost).
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Guidelines for Preclinical Preceptors
On site supervision of preclinical medical students should be provided
by board certified Family Physician preceptors. Students must work under
the supervision and knowledge of the preceptor at all times. The
preceptor should discuss the range of activities and participation that
the student might expect early on in the placement.
The Preceptors will prepare a schedule with the student during his or her first week of placement. Although the individual programs vary in how experiences are arranged, the preclinical student is typically expected to spend at least three days per week with certified community-based Preceptors in an ambulatory rural setting to a) learn what Family Physicians do as providers of health care in rural or urban settings; b) observe the dynamics of the doctor-patient relationship in Preceptor-patient interviews; and c) gain practical experience of the basics of the physical examination through the use of anatomical models (orientation) and through observation of the Preceptor.
One half day per week may be spent exposing the student to the network of community health professionals and agencies that complement the work of Family Physicians in rural or urban settings. Students will become aware of the various functions of the health care team and agencies through assigned interviews and site visits. Also, the student may have assigned visits to various facilities that provide allied health care services to patients commonly managed by Family Physicians. Another half day per week may be spent reading about medical and biopsychosocial problems encountered by rural or urban-based Family Physicians. Students will gain an understanding of the economics of rural and urban health care delivery, learn about common illnesses seen by Family Physicians and appreciate the importance of prevention in health care.
Additionally, time may be spent in a local community hospital learning about the function and support a hospital provides for community-based Family Physicians. Students may spend time in the emergency room observing the first contact of medical/surgical problems commonly encountered in primary care medicine or they may spend time in ancillary services such as lab and X-ray. A variety of health personnel can offer an appreciation of the value of the whole health care team in providing quality patient care.
The Family Physician will evaluate the program at the end of the preclinical preceptorship experience. The preceptors will evaluate the impact the students had on their presence in the offices and the community and the usefulness of the program and whether or not it should continue. If program changes are needed, the preceptors should make recommendations to the program director.
Furthermore, as indicated in the guidelines for preclinical student
experiences, the Consortium membership assumes no liability for
preclinical medical students (first-year students) placed through this
program. In addition, the Consortium membership acknowledges that the
Family Medicine Scholars Consortium is not liable for any damages
arising out of the Program and defends and indemnifies the Consortium
membership from any liability.
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