A family medicine training program in the Republic of Georgia: incorporating a model of chronic disease management.
BACKGROUND
This study describes a different approach to increase the number of family medicine physicians trained with specific competencies in the management of chronic disease.


METHODS
In 1999 the Republic of Georgia initiated an ambitious program designed to retrain practicing physicians in the specialty of family medicine. At 2 of the implementation sites, the Center for International Health worked with local health authorities to augment the official 940-hour curriculum to include lesson plans, workshops, and practicum experiences emphasizing a model of chronic disease management, giving particular attention to hypertension.


RESULTS
The population served by the training sites has benefited in a cost-effective manner by achieving blood pressure control for as little as $8 per year per patient; the physician learners have performed above their peer group on standardized national testing.


CONCLUSIONS
Family medicine training programs in resource-poor settings can incorporate chronic disease management models into their curriculum and achieve high-quality patient care outcomes.
Sanders
James
J
Columbia St. Mary's Family Practice Residency Program, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI 53212, USA. jsanders@mcw.edu
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003479:Curriculum; D019468:Disease Management; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education*; D005260:Female; D005846:Georgia (Republic); D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017145:Models, Educational; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation