ABSTRACT #27 A LONGITUDINAL COMMUNITY ORIENTED PRIMARY CARE CURRICULUM FOR INTERNAL MEDICINE TRAINEES

Gabriela Bernal, Ga Hee Kim, Tamara Goldberg

PURPOSE AND GOALS: Despite the importance of clinical-community partnerships in preventive healthcare, few internal medicine (IM) programs have integrated this topic into their curriculum. Our project aimed to facilitate a longitudinal community-based experience for our Primary Care Track residents by embedding dedicated service-learning sessions within their ambulatory schedule. Since our residents rotate at an urban Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) for their outpatient continuity practice, we collaborated with on-site community liaisons to build relationships with local community-based organizations (CBO’s).

METHODS: In July 2022, IM residency program leadership collaborated with FQHC site leadership to operationalize community- based opportunities for our residents. The outcome was a joint pilot initiative to incorporate one resident-led, CBO- based session during each two-week ambulatory block (6+ 2 schedule) between September 2022 and December 2022.

Each session included a PGY1, PGY2 and PGY3 resident and consisted of a 30 minute informational health topic review, followed by a 1 hour Q & A, and ending with real-time preventive service delivery (i.e. blood pressure checks, vaccine administration, etc.). Each resident team was assigned the topic 1-2 weeks in advance, and materials were reviewed by the Chief Resident and the Special Projects Coordinator.

EVALUATION PLAN: Pre-and post-intervention resident surveys were administered using a 5-point Likert agreement scale. Feedback from our CBO partners was also solicited.

SUMMARY OF RESULTS: Over the study period, 100% (n=12) of the Primary Care Track residents participated in 13 community events across 5 CBO’s with an average number of 10 clients per session. Survey response rate pre- and post- intervention was 100% (n= 12). To date, residents reported an increased understanding of how partnerships between healthcare organizations and CBO’s can address social needs (4.08 vs. 4.5). Additionally, residents felt more comfortable referring patients to local CBO’s ( 3.5 vs 4.41). Analysis of written feedback included common resident themes such as self-reported improvement in communication skills, improved sense of trust from the community, and increased patient access to health information. Additionally, common themes among CBO feedback were increased access to accurate medical information for clients and safe, non-judgemental space to discuss health concerns.

REFLECTIVE CRITIQUE: Results of this novel pilot curriculum suggest that a longitudinal community-based experience for Primary Care Track residents at an urban FQHC led to improved understanding of clinicalcommunity partnerships and level of comfort referring patients to CBOs. Furthermore, CBOs benefited from having a space where their clients can freely and openly discuss their health concerns. Future steps to optimize the curriculum include an emphasis on physician training in use of plain language to optimize effective communication with clients.