1. Improving the Family Medicine Board Pass Rate in your Residency Program Michele Vaca MD, Sandra Amado MD, Jehye Neptune MD, Matthew Nevulus MSII, Sonia Velez MD JD Saint Joseph’s Medical Center New York Medical College Department of Family Medicine
Background
Objective
Results
Conclusion
Designing an effective educational curriculum anchored in the following can improve the FM Board Pass Rate:
Developing individualized academic plans
Focusing on organ system based curriculum
Implementing an effective study plan
providing a supportive environment to study
Forming partnerships with the national effort to standardize the family medicine residency curriculum is essential in light of increasing demands being placed on the Family Medicine Physicians that we graduate. Family Medicine Physicians will be in the forefront of the delivery of health care that is affordable, equitable and most importantly of quality. To ensure that quality health care is delivered to all, Family Physicians must be trained by high quality educators and their curriculum should be standardized to deliver the core of Family Medicine. The Family Medicine Residency Curriculum is a resource that can be utilized to strengthen and standardize the Family Medicine Residency Curriculum delivered to our resident learners. Family Medicine Residency Programs are in an opportune position to play a critical role in implementing an effective educational curriculum.
In May 2013, 77% of the graduating seniors at the Saint Joseph’s Family Medicine Residency Program passed the Boards. To address this issue, the program director named the assistant program director as faculty chair of curriculum
Develop and implement an intervention to address the Program’s Board Pass rate and ultimately help the Program achieve a 100% Board Pass Rate
Methods
A Needs Assessment was conducted in May 2013 where the 2012 ITE exam scores were
reviewed and the ITE scores grouped by resident year. Cut offs were established for clear goals to be obtained: 300 for PGY1, 400 for PGY2 and 500 for PGY3. The Family Medicine Residency Curriculum was incorporated to the teaching and learning opportunities available at the Saint Joseph’s Family Medicine Residency Program. Individualized academic plans were developed.
In October 2013, the ITE exam scores were analyzed utilizing the cutoffs and goals set for each postgraduate year. A 6 month longitudinal educational program was administered to the residents at the Saint Joseph’s Family Medicine Residency Program. The schedules of the residents were reviewed to ensure that the residents had a schedule feasible to studying prior to taking the Family Medicine Boards in April 2014.
Data was collected via a survey administered to the graduating residents who participated in the educational curriculum.
By October 2013, 44% of the 3rd years achieved a score of 450 or higher. By October 2013, 89% of the 3rd years achieved a score of 400 or higher. The 2013 National Average for 1st time takers passing the boards was 479.
References
Access the Family Medicine Resource Curriculum at
Tuggy M, Abercrombie S, Chacko S, Gravel J, Hall K, Hoekzema G, Maxwell L, Mazzone M, Shaffer T, Wieschhaus M. A Family Medicine Residency Program Curriculum Resource. Ann Fam Med 2012;10:174
Mager RF. How to Turn Learners On without turning them off. GA: The Center for Effective Performance, Inc., 1997.
Kern DE, Thomas PA, Howard DM, Bass EB. Curriculum Development for Medical Education: A Six-Step Approach. MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1998.
Bell H. Encouragement: Giving “Heart” to Our Learners in a Competency-based Education Model. Fam.Med. 2007; 39(1):13-5.
Smith PL, Ragan TJ. Instructional Design. NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 2005
Table 1
Survey to Graduating Seniors
By October 2014, 36% of the 3rd years achieved a score of 450 or higher. By October 2014, 72% of the 3rd years achieved a score of 400 or higher.
After the implementation of a year long educational program, the Resident ITE scores improved and Saint Joseph’s Family Medicine Residency Program achieved a 100% board pass rate.