Ambulatory Education
Ambulatory training has long been a highlight of the program.  Northwestern residents care for a great variety of outpatients in general medicine and subspecialty clinics. Each PGY1 trainee begins a half-day general medicine continuity clinic alternating between the Northwestern Medical Faculty Foundation (NMFF) and the Lakeside Division of the Chicago VA. These continue through subsequent years of training.  At the beginning of the second year each resident adds a second half day of continuity clinic.  Exposure to the multi-specialty group (NMFF) provides experience in adapting to various systems of care, as well as the opportunity to manage a panel of patients.  The case-mix at both locales provides an outstanding preparation in ambulatory medicine.  Fulltime faculty members provide long-term education and follow-up.  Locations available for other continuity clinic opportunities include two community centers which provide care to underserved populations in Chicago.  Spanish language skills are highly desirable in these locations.

In addition to continuity clinics, residents have other ambulatory experiences including rotations in the Northwestern Memorial Emergency Room, the VA’s outpatient unit, and an Ambulatory Block rotation. This 8-week rotation consists of individually scheduled clinics chosen from among the various medical subspecialties as well as areas outside of internal medicine (e.g., dermatology, orthopedics, etc.). This latter rotation is particularly useful for trainees planning a career in general internal medicine with an emphasis on ambulatory primary care. Outpatient clinics in the medical subspecialties are also included as part of most consult elective rotations. Several outpatient based rotations are available in subspecialties such as hematology-oncology, cardiology and pulmonary in addition to traditional consultation rotations.

Residents see patients at Northwestern Memorial Faculty Foundation and the VA-Chicago.

 

Senior Residents Karin Ulstrup and Courtney Noble at the VA Ambulatory Clinic 2004 Spring Luncheon