Background: Although combined internal medicine/pediatrics programs (med-pe
ds) are increasing in popularity, little is known of the eventual practice
patterns of med-peds graduates, and how well the med-peds curriculum prepar
es them for practice.
Purpose: To characterize current practices of the med-peds graduates of 2 p
rograms, and assess how well residency prepared them for practice.
Method: Thirty-four graduates (81% response) of 2 med-peds residencies were
surveyed regarding their current medical practices. These graduates were a
lso asked to rate 23 procedure and 17 practice skills as to the importance
the skills hold in their current practices, as well as their level of prepa
ration from residency for each.
Results: Most graduates (78%) practiced in an urban/suburban setting. Most
(61%) provided primary care to adults and children. Respondents reported be
ing overprepared for skills specific to an intensive care setting (i.e. neo
natal and pediatric intensive care, delivery room resuscitation, Swan-Ganz
catheter insertion, etc.), and underprepared for skills needed in an ambula
tory setting (i.e. pelvic examination business/administrative skills, addre
ssing the psychosocial problems of adults and children, etc.).
Conclusions: Med-peds graduates most frequently report practicing adult and
pediatric primary care. They report a discrepancy between skills emphasize
d in training and those important for practice. These findings have implica
tions for curriculum development.