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Premier's Graduate Training Program Expands
May 30, 2010
As the second Graduate Training Program class nears completion, it is time to give an update on the progress of the program and the direction it’s headed.
As you’ll recall, the goal of the program is to assist physicians trained in a primary care specialty transition into a career in Emergency Medicine. It is well-documented that the Emergency Medicine residency programs are not producing the number of physicians necessary to meet the staffing needs of emergency departments across the country, particularly in the smaller, more rural areas. The program is designed to give the participants the skills and knowledge necessary to function at a high level in any emergency department.
In its second clinical year, the program has gained the reputation of being the most academic program of its type in the country. New candidates indicate that Premier’s program has the strongest, most comprehensive didactic portion compared to the other programs. Additionally, we have received requests from Emergency Medicine groups in California, Alabama, and Georgia to assist them in developing similar programs. Two of these groups have already begun their programs.
Although still in its infancy, this program has been an innovative approach to addressing the physician shortage and is gaining evolutionary momentum. First, our third class, beginning July 1st, is the largest class yet, composed of eight physician participants. In order to accommodate this number, two additional clinical sites have been added. Along with St. Rita’s Medical Center in Lima, Ohio, Atrium Medical Center in Middletown, Ohio and St. Mary’s Medical Center in Huntington, West Virginia have joined the program to provide one-on-one mentoring to the participants. All three sites have the volume and acuity necessary to provide the participants with the clinical exposure needed to succeed in Emergency Medicine.
Second, while the Program was initially created to provide training to primary care physicians interested in becoming emergency physicians, another purpose has emerged. A “Mentoring Program” was fashioned within the Graduate Training Program to provide additional training to primary care physicians who already possess Emergency Medicine experience but would like to hone their skills. Mentoring candidates, as they are called, can participate in either the year-long Graduate Training Program or a shorter amount of time, depending on their skill level and interest. This program has been hugely successful, and it continues to draw interest from physicians.
Last, the program is going virtual! By utilizing a web-based tool, a “virtual classroom” has been established for the didactic portion of the program where physicians will not be required to travel to the corporate office, allowing for a better use of the physicians’ time. Also, we will now have the capability to record each of the didactic sessions. Any Premier clinician will be able to access the intranet site and review any session he or she chooses.
The success of the program, thus far, can be attributed to the many dedicated, talented providers within the Premier organization, from our physician faculty providing didactic education, to the physicians at St. Rita’s Medical Center who provide the mentoring of these participants. As a result, we have been able to place graduates of this program at sites that have routinely been difficult to staff.
The Graduate Training Program has gone from a dream a few years ago to the largest of its kind in the country. The success of the program is vital to the future of Premier. By training, and ultimately retaining the physicians in the program, Premier will be able to better staff current contracts and allow growth to other Emergency Departments in the coming years.
If you know someone who might be interested in participating in our Graduate Training Program, becoming a Mentoring Candidate, or if you have any questions, please contact:
Premier Health Care Services, Inc.
332 Congress Park Drive
Dayton, OH 45459
800-726-3627
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© 2010 Premier Health Care Services, Inc.