Outpatient US Clinical Experience in Family Medicine in Atlanta

Information about this clinical experience:

You will be under the supervision of a highly experienced family physician known for building strong relationships with patients. The preceptor has educated international medical graduates from all over the world and is dedicated to helping learners grow through experiences in the practice. Recognizing that learners are at different stages in their education, the doctor encourages them to share what they hope to get from their clinical experience. The physician feels that this is an important conversation to ensure that the rotation is able to meet the needs of each learner. Of note, this preceptor is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Family Medicine at Morehouse School of Medicine.

In the family medicine office, you will see a largely adult population presenting with acute disease and chronic illness. Although most of your time will be in the office, you will also visit a mental health center once a week to provide primary care to patients with psychiatric problems, including depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and ADHD. Since most patients with psychiatric disease will initially present to their primary care physician, the preceptor believes that this is an important part of the rotation. Some useful resources to prepare for this part of the rotation:

Managing Behavioral Health Issues in Primary Care: Six Five-Minute Tools

Depression in the Primary Care Setting

This preceptor is also involved in the care of foster children. There may be opportunities to visit foster care centers during the rotation to provide health care to a group that often lacks it. This will be an excellent opportunity to understand the health challenges these patients face due to their backgrounds. An excellent resource to expand your knowledge in this area includes the following:

Health Care Issues for Children and Adolescents in Foster Care

You may also be able to visit urgent care centers several times per month where the preceptor sees patients. This will be an excellent opportunity to learn how focused and rapid assessments are made for undifferentiated patients in an acute setting. 

Please note that your Friday responsibilities will vary depending upon the needs of the preceptor and your own specific interests, and may include such things as taking part in didactics and quizzes, reviewing modules, clinical trials, or community service such as COVID testing. We encourage you to share your interests with the preceptor early in the rotation so that you can define your Friday activities.

Some part of your time may be spent with the preceptor's colleagues in other specialties. Past rotators have found these opportunities to be beneficial for their education and future practice of family medicine. For example, seeing patients with the podiatrist allows you to understand how common problems affecting the foot and ankle are evaluated and managed. Primary care physicians frequently encounter foot and ankle problems, but the evidence indicates that many practitioners are unfamiliar with the diagnosis and appropriate treatment of these disorders. Rotators are encouraged to read the following article about foot problems:

Common Foot Problems in Primary Care

During your experience, you will learn the following U.S. medical practices under the preceptor’s supervision:

• Taking patient histories.

• Performing physical exams under the physician's supervision.

• Presenting patients.

• Writing or entering notes.

• Researching the literature to answer clinical questions at the point of care.

• Educating patients.

• Spending time with other healthcare professionals to understand their roles and responsibilities. 

Please note that you will also be asked to give a presentation at the end of the rotation.