The Program

Fully accredited by ACGME, the Western Reserve Care System (WRCS) family practice program at Forum provides vast experience in core family practice training as well as a wide variety of medical specialties. The curriculum meets the essential standards established for residency training by the RRC, with longitudinal experiences in the primary care fields of geriatrics, pediatrics and Ob-Gyn. It’s a 4-4-4, three year program with added flexibility in the second and third year for residents to design their own elective experiences. The program was recently awarded its second consecutive five year accreditation, and continues to strive for excellence in the primary care field.

In 2004, the residency installed a progressive Electronic Medical Record (EMR) system, utilizing personal tablet PC’s and electronic integration to enhance quality of care and practice EBM principles at the point of care. Our latest addition includes an in office OB ultrasound giving residents more hands on experience to prepare for future careers as family physicians.  Despite quantum increases in technology, the Family Practice Center retains a collegial "residency in a practice" atmosphere, moving forward towards the Future of Family Medicine goal of a “Medical Home”. 
 
WRCS has a long history and strong commitment to graduate medical education. Our Family Practice Center, located on the Northside Medical Center campus, is the major outpatient teaching facility. Over 250 patients from all walks of life are seen each week in the Center. Hands on experience with pulmonary function testing, Retinal Imaging, colposcopy and other in office procedures are a major incentive to provide comprehensive real-life practical experience to our residents. 

In addition to resident education, the residency maintains strong ties to Northeastern Ohio University College of Medicine (NEOUCOM) from which residents frequently have the opportunity to teach and work with medical students. The residency has a strong commitment to excellence in patient care and personal growth. Residents are encouraged to pursue research and innovations with multiple available resources including a librarian and a statistician. Residents also get an opportunity to rotate in the local college student health clinic as well as community family practice offices, helping them tailor their learning to future needs.

The Faculty

Our program has a dedicated faculty with diverse educational and clinical experiences and a wide range of professional interests and expertise including medical informatics, medical humanities, care of the underserved, geriatrics and women’s health. We are committed to providing residents with a warm learning atmosphere along with care for the individual resident and his/her professional growth. To enhance this, the program also supports a full-time Director of Behavioral Science to broaden residents learning and gain greater insight into the bio-psychosocial aspects of patient care.  Recent curricular innovations include a Family Medicine Core Lecture series as well as competency based real time video precepting. Here at Forum, residency education is woven into the fabric of the institution, fostering a culture of cooperation and commitment along with broad based and in depth subspecialty support. 

For more information, please call us locally at (330) 884-3983 or toll free at (888) 800-2074 or e-mail Mary Ann at mevanchick@forumhealth.org

Our Family Practice Residency program participates in the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).