COMPLETION OF URBAN PROGRAM POLICY
Department of Family Medicine
University of Alberta
PURPOSE: To define the required components to complete the Family Medicine Residency Program.
SCOPE:
The policy applies to all residents in the Family Medicine residency program at the
University of Alberta.
Terms:
ACLS – Advanced Cardiac Life Support
ALARM – Advances in Labour Risk and Management
ATLS – Advanced Trauma Life Support
CPSA – College of Physicians and Surgeons of Alberta
PGME – Post Graduate Medical Education
PQI – Practice Quality Improvement
BEAR – Brief Evidence-based Assessment of Research
CMPA – Canadian Medical Protective Agency
ALSO – Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics
NRP – Neonatal Resuscitation Program
PGY1 – Post graduate year one
PGY2 – Post graduate year two
ITER – In-training evaluation report
Required Throughout the Program
1. Residents must be up to date with a valid ACLS course certification
2. Residents must be registered with the CPSA and have adequate coverage from the CMPA
3. Access to timely, efficient and reliable transportation is mandatory due to distances between
teaching sites
Successful Completion of the Clinical Curriculum
1. Family Medicine Block time – block time is 6 continuous blocks in first year, and 4 or 5 blocks in
second year, two of which must be rural.
2. Clinical half-day return – when not on their 6 month FM block, residents must attend one half-day
continuity clinic at their home base site over the residency program. Residents much attend
100% of scheduled continuity clinics. (Please refer to the Continuity Policy for further details).
3. Clinical experiences – residents must have clinical experiences in Care of Adults and the Elderly,
Care of Children and Adolescents, Maternity and Newborn care, Palliative Care, Care of
Vulnerable and Underserviced patients. In addition, they must obtain Surgical and Procedural
Skills and skills in Behavioral medicine and Mental Health.
4. Rural experience – Urban based residents must complete a minimum 8 weeks of rural medicine
at a site organized by the Office of Rural and Regional Health.
5. Regular evaluations will occur throughout the 2 years in the form of
- 4 month progress reports
- ITERS of rotation based experiences to be completed in a timely fashion
6. A minimum of 32 mandatory family medicine documented observations must be a part of the
resident’s file. A reasonable goal for formative feedback is one field note per half-day clinical
session.
7. Residents must take the NRP course during their PGY1 year and prior to being on call for Child
Health educational experiences.
8. ATLS and ALARM or ALSO– are considered mandatory courses (funding provided by PGME for
ATLS and $500 for ALARM or ALSO course from Dept of Family Medicine) for those who require
this training to prepare for advanced Obstetrics and Trauma life support as a part of their
practice.
9. Selective – one block of Family Medicine in PGY2 may be taken as a Selective and must be one
of: Advanced Obstetrics, Long Term Care, Primary Care Hospital Team, Anesthesia, or Intensive
Care Unit. Selectives are options that are not formally scheduled rotations (such as ER) and may
not be used as elective time.
Successful Completion of the Academic Curriculum
1. Academic Days
a. Residents must attend 100% of all Academic days. Absences must be explained in writing
to the Program Administrator. Reasons for acceptable absences include illness, vacation,
being on a rural rotation >50 km driving distance and inability to change Post Call status.
Residents are not to allow scheduling of call the day before Academic day. Please refer to
the Academic Day attendance policy for further details.
2. Evidence Based Medicine Curriculum
a. Evidence Based Medicine Workshop – residents must attend both full days. Incomplete
components will require remedial work.
b. BEARS – a total of four (4) BEARS (Brief Evidence-based Assessment of Research) are
required during block time on Family Medicine. BEARS should be presented to peers and
faculty during Block time seminars.
c. Journal Club – Urban residents are expected to attend journal club as part of the small
group component of the Site Specific Academic Half-day.
3. Practice Quality Improvement Projects
i. Please refer to the PQI resource manual for more information
ii. In PGY1 a “Practice” PQI is to be done during PGY1 Family Medicine Blocktime
and presented to the Academic or Community Based clinic
iii. In PGY2 a Community based PQI is to be done during the Family Medicine
rotation. For those who choose 2 separate sites in PGY2, the PQI can be done in
either site. The PQI project must be presented to the clinic before the completion
of the rotation. A copy of the project must be submitted to the Program.
4. Behavioral Medicine – Behavioral medicine courses and related activities are mandatory. Please
refer to the Behavioral medicine attendance policy.
5. PGME workshops – attendance is mandatory per the PGME office.
6. Residents are required to attend the 2 day Practice Management Workshop in PGY2.
7. Annual Benchmark Exam – residents must write the annual benchmark exam as provided by the
American Board of Family Medicine Examinations and funded by the program. Residents will be
released from call and clinical duties to write this exam. Residents are encouraged to share their
results with their faculty advisor to assist in educational planning.
Effective date: June 3, 2010
Revised or reviewed date: June 3, 2010