Integrated women's health program.

PROBLEM ADDRESSED Residents in family medicine residency programs require comprehensive training in women's health best practices and resources. OBJECTIVE OF PROGRAM To provide a framework for the development and implementation of an integrated women's health curriculum for family medicine residency programs. PROGRAM DESCRIPTION Objectives for each element of the program were the basis for planning the curriculum. Residents experienced primary care obstetrics clinic and on-call shifts, 24-hour off-service on-call shifts, women's health horizontals, and a women's health workshop, all of which were integrated into a 6-month family medicine block time. Residents worked with family physicians, obstetricians and gynecologists, and multidisciplinary health care team members in clinical settings. Teaching objectives were aligned with CanMEDS-Family Medicine core competencies. Creation of this program and its implementation were accomplished by dedicated teachers, administrators, and faculty members involved in curriculum planning. CONCLUSION The program design and implementation resulted in an improved comprehensive women's health training experience for residents, which was integrated into a family medicine context. Ongoing evaluation and innovation will serve to continually improve this program.