Specialists for primary care: experience and academic opinions at the University of Chile after the program´s first year

Abstract

In 2008 the three Departments of Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology and Pediatrics and Infantile Surgery of the Western Campus of the University of Chile began a new 6 years program to train specialist physicians for Primary Care in Internal Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology and Pediatrics. The Program alternates 6 months shifts at the Faculty and at original working places in primary care and emerged after an agreement between the Faculty and the Ministry of Health. AIM: To document the first 12 months of this experience. At a Faculty the idea was welcomed with a combination of interest and doubts. This article documents the evolution of these doubts and the way the experience has evolved along its first year. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Academic opinions of directly involved leading Professors of the Program are summarized and presented. RESULTS: Program design kept same objectives than the original 3 years program but doubled to 6 years to give place to primary care shifts. This requirement led to the implementation of several measures (strict records for academic experiences, grades, decisions, permissions; follow up and regular evaluation meetings with all involved people), academic creativity as well as the development of higher flexibility than the traditional three years program. CONCLUSIONS: Up to this moment experience has shown highly satisfactory and stimulant characteristics for the Faculty. No major difficulties have occurred and students declare satisfaction. Among several additional observed advantages students have linked their original working places and hospital with clear benefits for served population. This has become a major strength providing better consistency to the health network. Naturally, all aspects to make a sound evaluation of the experience will be kept under close surveillance. There is a plain belief that by the end of the training period specialist level will be comparable to the traditional specialization program.