Clerkships

Application forms for the 2024 - 2025 year will be accepted beginning January 16, 2024 with a deadline of April 1, 2024. Applicants will be notified of their status by April 30th.

ISU FMR offers clerkships for 4th-year medical students. Rotations last 4 weeks in a combination of 2 weeks inpatient and 2 weeks outpatient. Applicants must have completed their 3rd-year family medicine rotations prior to beginning their rotations at ISU FMR.

Slots are typically reserved for current medical students who have a strong interest in family medicine and who would like to interview for a spot in residency. Students should complete the on-line application to be considered.

Apply

Clerkship Application

OVERVIEW

The ISU FMR focus is to graduate physicians who are trained to provide full-spectrum Family Medicine for rural and underserved practice. This rotation will reflect this aim, exposing the student to this unique and much needed facet of Family Medicine. Our faculty are experienced in working with medical students and are committed to providing an excellent introduction to rural Family Medicine.

During this rotation the student will see patients in a variety of settings, which may include:

Portneuf Medical Center Inpatient Services
Portneuf Medical Center Labor & Delivery Services
Health West ISU Family Medicine Clinic
Juvenile Detention Center
Pocatello Free Clinic
HIV and / or Hepatitis C Clinics
Rural Spanish-Speaking Clinics
Transgender Health

HOSPITAL MEDICINE

In rural medicine Family Medicine Physicians are an integral part of hospital medicine. They often cover the inpatient service, ED, and obstetrics.

During the inpatient portion, students should expect a broad experience including rounding and shift transitions, medical / surgical floor care, and ICU exposure. While on service, students will function as much as possible as a 1st-year resident, which will include charting, patient presentations, and topic presentations.

OUTPATIENT MEDICINE

The 2-week outpatient portion is at the Health West ISU Family Medicine Clinic. This provides a rich Community Health Center experience, which, in addition to excellent clinical care learning, can include obstetrics, nursing home care, sports medicine, infectious disease, off-site rural Spanish-speaking clinics and other community sites.

GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Our goal is for the student to observe and learn the unique components of the Family Medicine approach to health care during the clerkship.

1. Biopsychosocial Aspects of Care: Gain insight into psychological, social and cultural factors that affect health through eliciting and understanding the patient’s perspective on their illness. For example, a cancer patient refuses chemotherapy and instead turns to traditional or alternative treatments due to a suspicion of western medicine.

2. Comprehensive care: Care for all of a patient’s health care needs, including acute care, management of chronic illnesses, and preventive care. We are not limited to a specific disease, setting, or organ system.

3. Continuity of Care: Provide care over the lifetime of the patient. Care can be augmented by consultants and other healthcare professionals, but the Family Physician takes primary responsibility for the health and well-being of the patient.

4. Context of Care: Develop treatment plans collaboratively with patients and families that are evidence based, safe, and produce patient-oriented outcomes that improve functional status and quality of life in a culturally responsive manner.

5. Coordination and Integration of Care: Family Physicians are the managers of the patient’s overall healthcare plan. The Family Physician collaborates with specialists and other healthcare professionals in disease management, health promotion and patient education.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES

Successful completion of the clerkship requires understanding and meeting three primary objectives:

1. Learn and apply knowledge of diagnosis and treatment of common medical problems and disease prevention within the context of the Family Medicine approach to health care. Learn where to obtain accurate, relevant information at the point of care.

2. Learn and apply effective patient-centered care skills, including effective culturally sensitive communication with patients and written and oral communication with other healthcare providers. Become comfortable with the use of the EMR in a way that enhances patient care.

3. Behave professionally in the care of patients and in your interactions with patients, their families and with your healthcare team and other professionals. Take the initiative with self-learning and time management, including supplemental reading, conference attendance, and promptly performing assigned duties. Timely communication and completion of paperwork are also considered when assessing professionalism.

NUMBER OF STUDENTS

We typically accept 15 students during the fall and winter each year. These rotations are limited to 4th-year medical students.

TRANSPORTATION

Pocatello does not have an extensive public transportation system. Therefore, students are responsible for providing their own means of transportation during the rotation.

BENEFITS

Housing - we have an apartment reserved for the first 10 accepted students. We can accommodate up to five more students, if they do not need housing.
Parking Pass - we provide parking passes