With primary carephysicians so hard to come by, Billings Clinic has come up with an innovative solution. <\/p>\n
It plans to grow its own. <\/p>\n
The Clinic is developing an internal-medicineresidencyprogram that at full capacity could be producing as many as six new doctors a year. <\/p>\n
The hope is that those new doctors will choose to practice in Montana where most counties have a shortage of primary carephysiciansand 10 counties have no physician at all. <\/p>\n
Thestartupinvestment of \"several million dollars\" will be underwritten by Billings Clinic, Billings Clinic Foundation and grants. <\/p>\n
Jim Duncan, president and CEO of the Billings Clinic Foundation, said the proposed program is one of the most transformational initiatives the Clinic has undertaken in nearly two decades. <\/p>\n
Billings Clinic last fall applied for accreditation from the Chicago-based Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and completed the site evaluation process in February. A decision is expected in early June. <\/p>\n
I feel very positive about that result but you never know until you actually get the letter, said Dr. Roger Bush, the program's director. <\/p>\n
If approved, the program would open to the first class of students in July 2014. The program will feature six positions each year in the three-year curriculum, a total of 18 slots when full. <\/p>\n
It would be the first program of its kind in Montana, Wyoming and North Dakota. There is one program in South Dakota, two in Iowa and three in Minnesota. <\/p>\n
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Billings Clinic starting Internal Medicine Residency Program<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" With primary carephysicians so hard to come by, Billings Clinic has come up with an innovative solution. It plans to grow its own. Continue reading