Medical Education
Primary Care Scholar's Consortium
guidelines for 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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