| What is TFM? |
Curriculum
The curriculum at Tacoma Family Medicine (TFM) is rigorous and progressive. It is designed to be a continuing experience over three years using a general pattern of observation, assistance, performance with supervision and autonomy with periodic evaluation in both ambulatory and hospital settings.Residents are expected to undertake increasing responsibility in a graduated fashion. Each resident works with practicing physicians from a wide variety of specialties within the community, facilitating exposure to multiple role models. Based on these experiences, the resident is encouraged and assisted in developing a style of practice most suited to his/her personal needs while achieving realization of their professional goals.
The hospital services at TFM represent a high quality educational experience that is significantly different from many community based family practice residencies. TFM has developed unique inpatient services in medicine, pediatrics and obstetrics that are truly resident panels. Patients are cared for and managed by residents, who function as their primary physicians. Faculty members serve to assist residents as teachers and mentors. This unique educational hybrid combines the strengths of a university style training experience with the flexibility and lack of competition characteristic of a community based program.
Initially, inpatient rotations take the majority of residents’ time laying a strong foundation in medical management of complex problems. However, as residents enter the R2 and R3 years, increasing time is spent in TFM continuity clinics and on ambulatory rotations – the educational and vocational core of a family physician’s career. During this time, residents continue to develop family-based relationships with their assigned panel of patients, gaining increased insight into the unique dynamics of each doctor-patient encounter. In addition, each resident cultivates a personal practice and style under the guidance of faculty family physicians. Faculty members and community physicians in other specialties are always available for consultation.
First-Year Resident Curriculum
| Rotation | Components of Rotation |
Average call for Rotation |
| Family Medicine |
6 weeks TFM Inpatient Services 2 weeks Ambulatory Care 1 week Family Medicine Outpatient |
Q4 Q7 |
| Dermatology | 4 weeks |
|
| Internal Medicine |
4 weeks Medicine Inpatient Service 2 weeks in conjunction with Gyn Rotation |
Q4 |
| Orthopedics | 6 weeks Outpatient Ortho/Sports Medicine with Dr. Marinani |
|
| Obstetrics | Two 4 weeks blocks- TFM & OB/Gyn faculty |
Q4 |
| Rural/Urban month |
Arranged by resident |
No call |
| Pediatrics |
6 weeks Inpatient Pediatric Service 1 week Mary Bridge Pediatric ER |
Q4 |
| Surgery | 4 weeks |
|
| Gyn | 2 weeks |
Second-Year Resident Curriculum
| Rotation | Components of Rotation |
Average Call for Rotation |
| Family Medicine |
2 weeks TFM Inpatient Service 2 weeks Family Medicine Outpatient |
Q4 Q7 |
| Gynecology | 4 weeks |
|
| Internal Medicine |
2 weeks Medicine Inpatient Service |
Q4 |
| Surgery |
4 weeks |
|
| Geriatrics |
Two 2 week blocks alternating with night float |
|
| Night Float |
Two 2 week blocks alternating with geriatrics |
|
| Obstetrics | 8 weeks |
Q4 |
| Rural/Urban month |
Arranged by resident |
No call |
| Pediatrics |
6 weeks Inpatient Pediatric Service 2 weeks Ambulatory Pediatrics |
Q4 |
| Surgery | 4 weeks |
|
| ER |
4 weeks Adult ER 2 weeks ER Procedures |
Third-Year Resident Curriculum
| Rotation | Components of Rotation |
Average call for Rotation |
| Family Medicine |
4 weeks TFM Inpatient Service 2 weeks Family Medicine Outpatient |
Q4 Q7 |
| Elective |
12 weeks |
|
| Urology |
2 weeks |
|
| NICU |
4 weeks |
Q4 |
| ENT |
2 weeks |
|
| Ophthalmology |
2 weeks |
|
| Pediatric ER |
4 weeks Mary Bridge ER |
|
| Internal Medicine |
4 weeks Medicine Inpatient Service |
Q4 |
| Sports Medicine |
2 weeks |
|
| Night Float |
2 weeks |
|
| Cardiology |
4 weeks |