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Curriculum

Hospital Medicine

Our Hospital Medicine training combines both inpatient and outpatient experiences. Interns complete five blocks of hospital medicine, with each block consisting of two weeks of inpatient care followed by two weeks of outpatient care. In the second year, residents complete two blocks of night float, one block of hospital medicine, and one block in the ICU. Third-year residents finish with three blocks of hospital medicine.

The inpatient service typically consists of three residents and an attending physician, managing a census of 12–20 patients, with 4 - 5 often being critically ill. Our Hospitalists care for a high-acuity, medically-complex population. Common diagnoses include decompensated cirrhosis, gastrointestinal bleeding, acute coronary syndrome, heart failure, COPD and asthma exacerbations, pneumonia (community- and hospital acquired), sepsis, diabetic ketoacidosis, stroke, alcohol withdrawal, pancreatitis, acute kidney injury, and VTE and complications of malignancy. Residents develop strong clinical skills in managing complex multisystem disease under close attending supervision. 

Our attending physicians are 90% Family Medicine-trained and 10% Internal Medicine-trained. The hospitalist service collaborates closely with the residency service, ensuring a balanced patient census that fosters a rich learning environment. Residents maintain continuity of care by continuing 3–6 half-day outpatient clinics during their outpatient weeks.

ICU

Residents assist with pulmonary, surgery, cardiology, and neurology consults, learning ventilator management and critical care skills. They participate in cardiology consults, EKG interpretation, and review of cardiac diagnostic tests. Neurologic workups and exams are emphasized. We are supported by a strong medical community.

Night Float

The night float rotation, consisting of two 4-week blocks, is a valuable learning experience. The night float resident oversees the entire hospital service and handles admissions, developing autonomy under faculty supervision.

Obstetrics

Our residency program has a strong focus on obstetrics, thanks to the support of community obstetricians. We are an unopposed residency, and residents are involved in nearly every delivery at Portneuf Medical Center, with most completing six obstetrics rotations and delivering about 100 infants, as well as performing 20 Cesarean sections as the primary surgeon.

Residents who do not plan to practice obstetrics can follow a non-OB track, using the additional time for hospital medicine or other areas of interest.

Gynecology / Women's Health

Gynecology rotations are coordinated with Pocatello Women’s Health Clinic and Health West OB/Gyn Clinic, providing training in colposcopy, cryotherapy, and IUD placement. Additionally, residents have the opportunity to receive women’s health training at Health West OB Clinic, Fort Hall Tribal Health Services, and the Women’s Prison.

Pediatrics

Our residency program offers pediatric didactics and hands-on care for pediatric patients both in the clinic and hospital. Partnerships with St. Luke's Medical Center in Boise and Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City provide additional training in inpatient and outpatient pediatric care, emergency stabilization, neonatal resuscitation, and intubations. Outpatient pediatric patients are seen in both our home clinic and Health West Pediatric Clinic, including circumcision training. 

First-year residents complete two weeks of general inpatient pediatrics at St. Luke's in Boise and two weeks inpatients pediatrics at Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello, while second-year residents spend four weeks in the pediatric emergency department at Primary Children's Hospital and two weeks in the local NICU.

Residents can expect to spend four weeks during their residency on the inpatient pediatrics service at Portneuf Medical Center in Pocatello.

Family Medicine Clinic

Full-spectrum family medicine is a key component of our three-year program. Clinic time gradually increases each year, with first-year residents spending 2-3 half days per week in the clinic, second-year residents 3-4, and third-year residents 4-5. By graduation, residents build a practice caring for both individuals and families, providing continuity through hospitalizations, surgeries, obstetrical deliveries, and nursing home care.

Residents are trained in procedures such as circumcision, vasectomy, toenail removal, and first-trimester OB and general ultrasound using Butterfly units. Specialty clinics include HIV, Hep C, Lifestyle Medicine, Immigration Clinics, and Sports Medicine.

Didactics are held daily at lunch and on Thursday afternoons, covering a broad range of family medicine topics, including preventive care, cardiology, orthopedics, and practice management.

Rural Medicine Selective

Residents are encouraged pursue rural rotations locally or in other rural areas of Idaho. These rotations provide invaluable experience in rural practice, supported by local housing options from supervising physicians.

The residency program emphasizes rural healthcare, serving diverse populations such as migrant farm workers and Native American communities.

Surgery / Interventional Radiology

First-year residents spend one week in general surgery, assisting in surgery, conducting patient evaluations, and participating in trauma codes. Residents develop expertise in primary care surgical assessments through close mentorship with community general surgeons. Additionally, two weeks are spent with interventional radiologists and anesthesiologists, where residents perform procedures such as intubations, arterial, and central line placements.

Emergency Medicine

Residents staff the emergency room during peak hours under supervision. This rotation offers ample opportunities to practice procedures like suturing, casting, and managing acutely ill patients. First-year residents complete one emergency medicine block, while second-year residents complete a second. These experiences prepare residents for moonlighting in rural emergency rooms.

Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

Residents are required to complete four weeks of orthopedics and sports medicine in both their second and third years. During this time, they work with sports medicine faculty in clinic settings, ISU Student health services, and the ISU training rooms, and they also attend athletic events as team physicians. Additionally, residents train with local orthopedic physicians, gaining experience in orthopedic evaluations, joint injections, toenail removals. They work with cast technicians to learn proper casting techniques and basic fracture management. Ski Patrol training is also available for those interested. 

Longitudinal / Medical Subspecialty

During the third year, residents complete a longitudinal subspecialty rotation, spending 12 weeks in specialties like cardiology, ophthalmology, ENT, urology, and dermatology, gaining valuable experience in outpatient specialty care.

Community Medicine and Psychiatry

The Community Medicine and Psychiatry rotations consist of a full 4-week block and are also integrated longitudinally throughout the intern year. The community medicine rotation focuses on familiarizing residents with community resources that they can utilize for their patients during the remainder of their residency. These resources include:

  • Home health agencies
  • Hospice care
  • Epidemiology, particularly for sexually transmitted diseases
  • Health education and nutrition
  • Developmental pediatrics
  • Pharmacotherapeutic resources

The psychiatry rotation includes both inpatient and outpatient clinic experiences. These rotations also incorporate videotaped personal clinics and assigned readings in psychiatry.

Selective

Most selective blocks are often dedicated to obstetrics, which is a hands-on rotation offering numerous procedural opportunities and is crucial for developing obstetrical skills. Residents choose their selectives based on personal interests, future practice goals, or identified areas of improvement. Elective options include:

  • Allergy & Immunology
  • Lifestyle Medicine
  • Hematology/Oncology
  • Wilderness Medicine
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Urgent Care (pediatric/adult)
  • ICU
  • NICU
  • Hospital procedures with interventional radiology and anesthesiologists
  • Wound care
  • Hospice/Geriatrics/Palliative Care
  • Cardiology
  • Ophthalmology
  • Pulmonology
  • Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R)
  • MAT/Hep C Treatment
  • Free Clinic

Science of Quality Improvement

To increase competency in Practice-Based Learning and Systems-Based Practice through the acquisition of knowledge and skills in the science of quality improvement

Quality Improvement

Quality Improvement is a critical component of our core curriculum. Our quality improvement team has developed a comprehensive curriculum that centers on quality improvement and patient safety. The curriculum is a balance between didactic, knowledge and skill building.  Interns first learn the basics of QI, team building, and change management.  As residents progress, they apply the concepts to a quality improvement project and present that project prior to graduation.


Our goal is to prepare physicians to be leaders in changing and developing the course of healthcare.