Scholarly Activity

Recent Resident Projects:

Research:

A resident investigated the number of women of child-bearing age in our clinic who had known teratogenic medications in their medication list without any documented contraception. As an outcome of this project, our EMR now includes a preventative health screening form that includes methods of contraception for providers to document and help improve patient safety. 

Other projects include distribution of naloxone to high risk patients on opioids, comparison of treatment of multiple chronic conditions in refugee vs. non-refugee populations, and immunization of teenagers. 

Quality Improvement:

One resident noted non-English-speaking and refugee patients had greater stress and discomfort surrounding a gynecological exam and pap smear. As a result, she developed translated handouts describing the procedure and purpose to the patients to help answer their questions and ease concerns.

One resident wanted to ease the universal fear of needles shared by all children. She completed a presentation at our All-Staff meeting, detailing the use of distraction boards, medical toys, and Buzzy (a vibrating bee with cold wings to distract a child from the needle) for our pediatric patients.

Residents and faculty meet once a month and residents also attend a monthly all-staff meeting with the clinic in order to address problems, implement solutions, and initiate progressive processes that make St. Mark’s Family Medicine Clinic an evidence-based, cost-effective patient-centered medical home.

Continuing Education and Information Technology:

One of our residents attended a conference on the use of ultrasound and purchased an ultrasound for our clinic for musculoskeletal and obstetrical use.

Our residents are actively involved in the evolution of our EMR in order for it to best serve the providers and our patients. This includes building new templates and customizing pop-up alerts for our clinic visits.

Posters:

Below you will find a sample of different posters created from projects over the past couple of years.