Division of General Internal Medicine

General Medicine Program
General Internal Medicine Program of the National Cheng Kung University Medical Center

【Purpose】

The division of general internal medicine (GM) at the NationalChengKungUniversityMedicalCenter is becoming one of the most important divisions within the Department of Internal Medicine. Under the direction of Yi-Heng Li, M.D., the division is attaining regional recognition for comprehensive and innovative patient care, intense involvement in the education of students and residents, especially the training of the first year of the postgraduates. Faculties in the division come from different backgrounds and cooperate to fulfill the divisional objectives. The major purposes of our training course are:
1. Developing competencies in the diagnosis of common medical complaints, and the on-going management of the common medical conditions
2. Establishing behavior in the concept of patient-center, and under the consideration of patients’ maximal benefits.
3. Learning principles of diseases prevention, cost-effective application of evidence based medicine, and psychosocial and cultural impact on health

【Program Description】

The training program is based on both outpatient and inpatient settings at the NationalChengKungUniversityHospital which is a major tertiary teaching hospital in southern Taiwan. The resident (PGY) training is a 1-month (with a 3-month option) program funded by the Department of Health, Executive Yuan. The program includes formal training in all aspects of the general internal medicine, and is the only one that was selected by the Department of Health as a demonstration of general medicine training center in southern Taiwan. It provides opportunities of clinical practice while conducting state-of-the-art medical education. The major courses in the program include
1. Primary Care Clinical Sessions: Each resident will spend 4 weeks in their role as a primary care provider. Each resident is a member of a primary care team, which consists of resident himself or herself, one intern and one faculty member. The team acts as a major patient care system with the back up of a faculty member as the clinical instructor.

2. Morning Report: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning case discussions of the patients seen in the practice, which are run by faculty and chief residents before the routine work of every day.

3.General Internal Medicine Lecture Series: Offered to all residents and interns. The lecture series, offered twice a week, covering common primary care topics such as: management of chest pain, diagnosis and treatment of common causes of anemia, treatment of asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease, management of abdominal pain, and the diagnosis and treatment of oligouria.

4. Inpatient Ward Teaching:Three faculties per month are assigned to make a bedside teaching round three timesa week on the general medicine service. These rounds provide ongoing comprehensive medical Information and diagnostic skill from the teacher.

5. Journal Reading Seminars : A series of seminars are offered once a week. Each seminar builds on the reading the newest article from famous general medicine journals, such as the New England of Medicine, Lancet or Archives of Internal Medicine. All seminars are clinically oriented and emphasize evidence base medicine.

6. Evidence Base Medicine Seminars: All residents participate in evidence base medicine seminars which take place on Saturday twice per month. During these seminars residents make literature reviews based on clinical questions from their cases. The seminars focus on developing an understanding of the basics in treatment and diagnostic clinical trials.

7. PsychoSocial Rounds: All residents participate in psychosocial rounds which take place once a month. Psychiatrist is invited to the ward. The rounds focus on several different topics related to the Doctor patient relationship, such as the angry patient and breaking bad news to patients. In addition, screening and treatment of mood disorders and interview techniques are reviewed and discussed.

8. Outpatient Training in General Medicine: Residents further their expertise in general medicine and chronic disease management in our outpatient clinics. The program offers once a week outpatient clinical training for each resident in our Primary Care Teaching Clinic.