Training in the Ambulatory Setting
The ambulatory care program is an environment in which the House Staff serves as the primary provider of all aspects of a patient's care. House Staff follow their patients throughout their residency experience, maximizing continuity of care. The patients strongly identify the House Staff as their doctors. House Staff become proficient in managing all aspects of outpatient decision-making including triage, telephone communication and the transition between inpatient and outpatient care. The House Staff's role is that of the practicing clinician.
The outpatient block rotation consists of eight weeks each year. House Officers serve as the physician for their patients. If a patient is hospitalized, House Officers 
continue to follow the patient in the hospital and serve as the principal physician for planning the diagnostic evaluation and treatment, writing daily progress notes, and communicating with the floor staff and family. A patient who becomes ill at home during evening or weekend hours calls the House Officer covering for the practice. House Officers are expected to take the lead in all decision-making and serve as the patient's primary health care provider under the supervision of an attending physician. House Staff also rotate to subspecialty, medicine and non-medicine clinics. An outpatient Morning Report is held three days per week. A strong didactic curriculum supports these activities.
