NE Missouri News

Today marks Thank a Resident Day, an occasion recognized by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) to honor resident physicians. These individuals have completed medical school and are now undergoing specialized training and clinical experience. Upon finishing their residency, they can take national certification exams to become Board Certified in their chosen specialty. Residents play a crucial role in healthcare teams, particularly in rural areas.

Northeast Regional Medical Center (NRMC) has been involved in supporting physician education through its clinical residency programs. The center currently offers resident training in dermatology, family medicine, internal medicine, and osteopathic neuromuscular medicine.

Kent Blanke, D.O., director of medical education at NRMC, highlights the benefits hospitals with resident physicians provide to patient care. "As an attending physician, I might see my patients once or twice a day. However, resident physicians are assigned to check on patients several times a day. So the patient actually ends up seeing a doctor multiple times during the day."

Dr. Blanke also notes that residents contribute significantly to nurse education as they collaborate closely in patient care. "There is a lot of coeducation between the attending and residents, which keeps us all on our toes."

Resident physicians enhance information sharing and education among healthcare providers and patients alike. "Residents bring a higher level of care to the patients served by NRMC," states DeLeeuw, D.O., internal medicine residency director. "The education of residents requires the supervising physicians to keep up with the latest medical information available."

Dr. DeLeeuw further emphasizes that residents often have more time for patient interaction and family discussions about healthcare matters. "They have the time to talk with patients and their loved ones to provide education regarding their health care. It’s satisfying as an educator to see residents creating a professional relationship with their patients that we know is going to help improve health care overall."

NRMC expresses pride in its residents and their contributions to the community's well-being. The staff finds it rewarding to celebrate successes like that of Brock Davis, D.O., a dermatology resident recently selected as an American Academy of Dermatology delegate for the American Medical Association House of Delegates. Residency programs at NRMC foster future leaders and advocates for rural communities.