Introduction to MFP
This document contains more information about the services and people at McMaster Family Practice
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The unit consists of fifteen practices organized into two teams. Each team includes staff physicians, nurse practitioners and residents. There are usually forty residents home-based with twelve or so being full-time during any one period. Residents carry their own practice within the fifteen teams, while gaining experience in team care and support.
All providers have access to state-of-the-art computerized patient information system. Work stations are available in all exam rooms and provide a real-time electronic day sheet with on-line access to patient information including lab work and radiology results. We anticipate having a full electronic medical record by the end of 2005.
Low risk obstetrics is handled by four on-site family physicians with a special interest in obstetrical care. They see our patients in conjunction with the resident and team to provide antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum care. This has proved to be an excellent educational experience for our residents.
We also cooperate with community resource providers in the care of some of our patients at home. Some long term care patients may live in nursing homes or on the in hospital chronic care ward, with the unit physicians responsible for their care. Experience in the home care of a variety of patients, including geriatrics is part of the program.
Practice Type:
The McMaster Family Practice physicians operate as a Family Health Organization (FHO). We are a designated Family Health Team (FHT) which allows us to provide enhanced patient care from other, non-physician health care clinicians.
Additional Resources:
Primary level laboratory services can be assessed in the clinic. Complete diagnostic and consultant services are available from McMaster University Medical Centre or from consultants in the community including those located in other hospitals. Consultants provide some on-site teaching consultations by coming to the clinic to see patients. These include psychiatry, dermatology and Internal Medicine clinics.
Faculty Special Interests:
The faculty physicians have a wide range of research and clinic interests. These interests include biostatistics, breastfeeding, child abuse, chronic pain, compliance, computer applications, conflict resolution, critical appraisal, dermatology, the difficult patient, the dying patient, family centered newborn care, family dynamics, geriatrics, health promotion, hypertension, interviewing, mentally handicapped patients, palliative care, pediatrics, periodic health examination, obstetrical care, research design methods, sexual counselling, smoking cessation, weight counselling, women's health, vasectomies, circumcisions, other minor surgeries and international health.
Education Facilities/Features:
Most clinical and educational activities are centered in the team offices shared by residents, nurse practitioners, and staff family physicians. It is possible to monitor examination rooms by video camera and VCR's which are in each exam room. All residents can be monitored via three supervisor stations equipped with monitors.
The Health Sciences library is located on the McMaster University main campus. Each resident and clinician exam room has a computer with the electronic patient database (OSCAR) with direct links to SKOLAR and other internet resources. Software programmes such as WordPerfect and PowerPoint are available for residents preparing rounds. Access to the hospital electronic medical records and e-mail are also available.
Teaching, resources and evaluation scheduling are managed by the Education Secretary with input from the Education Coordinator and the Chief Resident.
Monday morning turnover rounds emphasize the problems and priorities of urgent and on-call core. Tuesday lunch rounds are based on the Practice Based Small Group Learning model of practical medicine.
Residents and staff prepare the Thursday morning rounds, which emphasize core components of our day to day procedure in pediatrics, obstetrics, and family medicine. Thursday noon sees the Consultant Rounds, when visiting experts provide teaching around specialized areas. Each Friday noon heralds Chart Rounds, during which impromptu presentations and discussions of interesting and challenging cases of the day/week are discussed
Further educational activities include the weekly Quality Assurance chart audit, and the monthly clinics in dermatology and internal medicine. There are weekly rounds in Evidence Based Medicine, and weekly Departmental Academic Half Day that covers the core content of Family Medicine.
Behavioural Science is a major part of the McMaster Residency Programme. Thursday afternoons are set aside for Behavioural Science seminars. These seminars are usually presented by residents and incorporate a family medicine tutor and a psychiatric resource person. The second part of the seminar is used for review of patient problems often using video taped interviews. A psychiatrist comes into the Unit one afternoon a month to provide teaching consultations.
In Closing:
McMaster Family Practice has been undergoing the change and growth of a Teaching Unit moving into the 21st century. We are proud of the care we provide our patients and the educational opportunities we offer our residents and students.
For more information you can contact the following people:
Unit Manager: Carol Ridge (905)521-2100 ext.75587 - email
Education Co-ordinator: Jan Baxter (905)521-5016
Unit Director: Dr Dale Guenter & Dr Cathy Risdon (905) 521-5016
More Info About MFP:
McMaster Family Practice Staff