A Day in the Life of a Family Medicine Residency Faculty Member (A Compilation)
Introduction
8 to 8:30 a.m. — Faculty advisor meeting with resident. Seeing the talent of residents, I have optimism for the future of family medicine. We discuss rotations, goals, frustrations, and plans for future practice.
9 a.m. to noon — My own personal clinic this morning. Here is a typical clinic schedule (these are not real patients but are representative of what my schedule often looks like). I no longer do OB, so I do not have prenatal visits. Some of my patients I have been following for 20+ years, and I still love the long-term continuity that I have with those patients. As is common, my practice panel has aged with me, but I am still fortunate to see a handful of pediatric patients. Derm procedures add variety to any clinic day. Psychiatric care is a common component of a family medicine practice.
- 9 a.m. — Nonagenarian here for frequent falls, weakness
- 9:20 a.m. — Shave excision of skin lesion
- 9:40 a.m. — Young adult for follow up of depression/anxiety/PTSD
- 10 a.m. — Three-day-old for newborn check
- 10:20 a.m. — Follow up on diabetes, new complaint of dizziness
- 10:40 a.m. — ER follow up for chest pain
- 11 a.m. — Medicare Annual Wellness Visit and follow up on hypertension, hypothyroidism, CKD III
- 11:20 a.m. — Ten-year-old for school physical/well-child check, follow up on ADHD
Noon to 1 p.m. — “Business meeting” with residents, faculty, and clinic staff to discuss clinic management issues. This session is led by our site leads. Today’s topic is the criteria for dismissing a patient from the residency practice.
1-5 p.m. — Precepting residents for their clinic time. I am always amazed at the challenging complexity of our patients. Most patients have one or more chronic problems and one or more acute complaints. Agenda setting is an ever-present challenge.
5-6 p.m. — Meeting with residents to discuss their research project.
6-9 p.m. — Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG) medical student skills workshop. I help with the Nexplanon insertion workstation. The workshop is a way to expose students to the variety of options that a family medicine physician can include in their practice.
About the Author
Dr. Craig Griebel is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine.