Department Spotlight: Community Health and Family Medicine
We are dedicated to advancing medicine and making our community a healthier place to live.
The commitment of faculty and staff in the department of community health and family medicine at the University of Florida College of Medicine – Jacksonville to deliver high-quality care to our patients and the community at large is second to none. Composed of 26 practices and more than 115 providers covering six counties and two states, our faculty and providers have done exceptional work while facing unique challenges presented by COVID-19. Nevertheless, education, innovation and charting a course for the future of family medicine at this institution remains our focus.
Education
It is our privilege to provide a family medicine clerkship experience for medical students at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville. Throughout the academic year, Jacksonville receives six to eight students for a four-week rotation for 12 rotations. Students are distributed to one of 27 satellite practices as well as Mayo Clinic. In total, 81 third-year UF medical students participated in the clerkship in addition to four first-year UF students, 14 UF physician assistant students and six UF nursing students.
This year, the geriatric rotation was added, receiving one student each four-week rotation for a two-day experience in family medicine. Overall, the UF score for the clinical rotation was 4.38. We are pleased to report four of our faculty received Teacher of the Year awards from students.
Innovation
Technological advancements have broadened the scope of medical care, creating new ways for our physicians and providers to care for the diverse patient population we serve. Using technology, our department has effectively incorporated the practices listed.
- Virtual visits
- Virtual medical assistants
- CNAs
- Encounter specialist/Medical assistant scribes
- Centralized in-basket management
- Collaboration with a value-based care team
- Centralized referral coordinator management
Strategy to improve patient care
The relationship between a patient and physician is unique. As we chart the path forward for family medicine, we must create a strategy that helps physicians provide the best care and is easily accessible to patients. Our patient-focused strategy is as follows:
- Develop a comprehensive primary care network that provides easy access and customer-friendly features to meet the expectations of our diverse patient population.
- Recruitment and retention of physicians, advanced practice providers and staff.
- Expand virtual visits. Create a virtual clinic with expansion of access for evenings, weekends and holidays. Automate administrative processes, consider an artificial intelligence-based solution for documenting, and maximize use of technology to support a mobile workforce and collaborative environment.
Recognition of staff awards
The contributions of our faculty continue to gain recognition on the national and local levels. We are grateful for their dedication to advancing medicine and making our community a healthier place to live.
- Ross E. Jones, MD, named as member of the Multisector Partner Group for the AAMC Center for Health Justice.
- Jeremy Coleman, MD, chosen by the Nassau Record newspaper for the “40 Under 40” Recognition of Professionals.
- Five-Star Patient Rating Award recipients: Samir Array, MD; Jeremy Coleman, MD; Arnold Fong, MD; Reetu Grewal, MD; Sheri Hayes-Raulerson, APRN; Lauren Power, MD; Tracie Rutledge, APRN; and Glinda Wortham, APRN.
