Lawndale FMR

Clinic First and Continuity Clinic ▼

In addition to multiple continuity clinic shifts each week, residents spend a dedicated four week block in clinic each year caring for their own patients.

During this time, residents are trained to be leaders of multi-disciplinary care teams, huddling with medical assistants and care managers daily, collaborating with nurses, midlevel providers, the behavioral health team, and coordinating care for patients with its pharmacy, senior center, specialists, and community partners. They are supervised and precepted daily by ideal family physician role models with years of training and experience working in CHCs and medically underserved communities.

Emergency Medicine ▼

PGY-1 and PGY-2 residents work in the ER and in the LCHC Immediate Care Center (ICC) for three blocks over their first two years. During these rotations, residents will work alongside emergency medicine and immediate care physicians to triage, assess, work-up, and treat patients of all ages presenting with urgent and emergent conditions.

Residents also participate in opportunities to suture, use POCUS, interpret EKGs, XRs, and other POC labs, initiate same-day buprenorphine, all while gaining a better understanding of the social determinants of health that often drive ER and ICC visits.

Chief Resident ▼

All residents serve as Chief Residents for two blocks during PGY-3. During this time, they work closely with the Lawndale FMR Program Director and LCHC’s Chief Clinical Officers to take on a greater administrative and leadership role. They are required to complete and implement a quality improvement initiative for the health center and participate in senior leadership meetings. They also have the opportunity to lead facets of several key residency initiatives (didactics, intern support, etc.)

Pediatric Inpatient ▼

Residents dedicate one block as PGY-1 and one block as PGY-2 to inpatient and emergency care of acutely ill pediatric patients at Saint Anthony Hospital. During this rotation, residents are supervised by the pediatric hospitalist at Saint Anthony as well as the inpatient Lawndale pediatric team.

Residents gain experience diagnosing and managing common pediatric inpatient conditions (e.g., fever in newborn, hyperbilirubinemia, asthma, bronchiolitis, pneumonia, UTIs, seizures, dehydration, and sepsis), which further strengthens their competence in pediatric care along the entire continuum of care.

Musculoskeletal ▼

In most clinical and health systems studies, musculoskeletal complaints rank second only to skin or viral illness complaints as the top reason for seeking medical attention. It is critical that family physicians have the medical knowledge and skills to meaningfully address these issues.

During PGY-2, residents have a focused block to expedite development in this field by working in rheumatology clinic, orthopedic clinic, and with physical therapist specialists. Teaching skills in advanced physical exam, procedures (e.g. joint injections, splinting/casting, etc.), and holistic approaches to commonly encountered musculoskeletal conditions are emphasized.

Surgery ▼

While all residents care for surgical patients in the hospital throughout their three years on our FMS service, including in the admission, management, and discharge/follow-up of diverse and common surgical cases (e.g., appendicitis, cholecystitis, LE wounds, orthopedic, etc.), PGY-2 residents utilize a block to further develop high-yield medical knowledge and skills for surgery-related conditions.

Residents focus this time on developing advanced competencies in pre and post operative care and risk assessment, wound and podiatric care, as well as office-based procedures.

Orientation ▼

All PGY-1s are introduced to LCHC, to Lawndale and our surrounding communities, to our amazing faculty, and most importantly(!) to one another during a month-long orientation rotation.

During this time, residents work with patients and their families during home visits, with LCHC clinical teams in the clinic and hospital, and with community partner organizations to lay a foundation for the training ahead. Routine onboarding, EMR training, and ACLS/BLS/PALS certification complement multiple days of clinical boot camp and seeing patients in clinic + hospital so that our interns hit the ground running for their first rotation.

Electives ▼

Deeply core to our values at Lawndale FMR is that each resident physician is being called to a career in medicine that is unique to their own passions and personality. To that end, electives are self-designed rotations that allow residents to target growth in particular skills, settings, or populations.

Common electives include: Immediate/Urgent Care, Global Health, Obesity and Nutrition, Addiction Medicine, Healthcare for the Homeless (Mobile Health), Wound Care, Scholarly Work, Community Health or Advocacy, Faculty Development, Home Visits/Home Care Medicine, MFM/High-Risk OB, Leadership Development, Spanish Immersion and New Arrival/Migrant Care, and so many more.

Electives are designed with the Program Director and key faculty to align with each resident’s Individual Learning Plan (ILP), which is continuously updated to target personal and career future goals.

Family Medicine Service ▼

Family Medicine Service (FMS) comprises 10 of the 39 blocks over the course of three years and is a pillar of resident training. As highlighted above, the Lawndale FMS team is a resident-led service that cares for LCHC patients in the hospital, which provides exceptional continuity of care. Residents are taught to work closely with the LCHC Transitions of Care team to ensure that social determinants of health are being addressed in addition to the clinical issues driving hospitalization.

Typically, an experienced inpatient faculty physician works with the resident team of two interns and a senior resident. During PGY-2 year, residents also work "night float" providing service coverage overnight.

Each day on FMS is generally structured the same though the scope of pathology and patient care needs are incredibly varied. Residents will see their patients in the morning prior to rounding with the entire team. Lunch is a time for teaching and solidfying lessons from the service. Afternoons bring more admissions and rounding, prior to signout in the early evening.

Maternal Child Health ▼

PGY-1 and PGY-2 residents complete three blocks over their first two years on MCH caring for laboring patients, postpartum patients, obstetric triage, and newborns. Our residents "run" the OB service unopposed and cover the floor 24 hours/day, which allows for wonderful volume and scope of OB experience.

Procedures include vaginal delivery, IUPC and FSE placement, laceration repair, and newborn circumcision. Further elective opportunities in this field exist for those who are preparing for a career with an emphasis on OB or a fellowship in operative deliveries.

Geriatrics ▼

LCHC is committed to providing innovative, exceptional care to our older patients in the community. During PGY-3, residents work alongside our board-certified geriatrician across a continuum of sites, including in our dedicated Senior Clinic, on home visits, and as part of part of our PACE (Program for the All-Inclusive Care of the Elderly) program. LCHC is one of just a few organizations in the entire state with a PACE program.

Residents on this rotation learn about the comprehensive management of the older patient, including functional assessment, disease prevention and health promotion, quality and end of life issues, as well as the management of older patients with multiple/complex chronic diseases.

Pediatric Outpatient ▼

For one block during PGY-1 and PGY-3 years, residents have the opportunity to work alongside our LCHC Pediatricians in different outpatient settings across LCHC.

These rotations allow for targeted development of the knowledge, skills, and approaches to holistically care for pediatric patients of all ages, particularly in the context of family and community. Best practices learned through well child and preventive visits in addition to commonly encountered acute and chronic illnesses will be integrated into continuity practice throughout residency and beyond.

Mobile Health & Addiction Medicine ▼

During PGY-3, all residents complete a rotation dedicated to working alongside LCHC’s Mobile Health Team in LCHC’s 12+ community homeless shelters and solidifying their skills in addiction medicine.

As a leader in caring for people experiencing homelessness and for those battling substance use disorder, residents have the chance to work alongside LCHC’s expert clinicians in this field. During this rotation, residents also have the opportunity to work with LCHC's team in the Medical Stabilization Unit at Saint Anthony Hospital, which offers experience managing severe and often complex SUDs in a hospital setting.

Caring for our patients experiencing homelessness or struggling with addiction is synonymous with our mission of caring for the marginalized with the love of Jesus. We hope our residents find this work deeply rewarding and for some “a calling.” Numerous electives and scholarly projects can also be pursued in this scope of work.

Behavioral Health ▼

Behavioral Health (BH) training is emphasized at Lawndale FMR due to the reality of working in a Community Health Center or medically underserved community — BH care is all too often an unmet need. Residents will graduate with a comfort and skill set to provide a higher level of BH care than most primary care physicians.

To meet this vision, residents work closely with our BH team of psychiatrists, psychologists, and LCSWs during dedicated BH rotations in PGY-1 and PGY-3 in developing competencies for addressing severe mental illness, mood disorders, PTSD, and substance use disorders, all with a trauma-informed approach. Similarly, residents will collaborate closely and learn from the BH team during continuity clinic every week, utilizing diagnostic screening tools and advancing their own interview and therapy skills throughout their three years at Lawndale.

Women's Health ▼

Quality, holistic care for women spans the lifetime and is synonymous with primary care. During this rotation during PGY-2 year, residents have the opportunity to spend a focused month with our board-certified OB/GYN physicians learning and performing gynecological procedures such as colposcopy, endometrial biopsy, and other common outpatient gynecologic procedures.

While residents will perform many of these procedures in continuity clinic as well, a dedicated month provides the chance to increase volume and comfort in these procedures while working along specialists in the field. Similarly, it provides excellent training in the management of common women’s health conditions such as postmenopausal and abnormal uterine bleeding, infertility, pelvic pain, urinary incontinence, prolapse, among many others.

Procedures ▼

Procedures are a core part of family medicine and can play a critical role in access and outcomes of quality patient care. At Lawndale FMR, we emphasize the importance of procedural training in the context of our community and patient population here on the West Side of Chicago while also creating broad training opportunities so our graduates can practice effectively in whatever setting they ultimately serve.

Procedural training at Lawndale FMR is fully integrated and takes place in a wide variety of locations, including didactic workshops (simulation) as well as clinical rotations in our partner hospitals (FMS, MCH, ER) and various clinic settings (e.g. Continuity Clinic, Immediate Care Center, Procedure Clinic, Gynecology Procedure Clinic.)

The following list outlines the most common procedures Lawndale FMR residents perform and those that all residents are expected to be able to perform independently upon graduation. It is not an exhaustive list:

• Derm: Punch/excisional/shave biopsy, corn/callus removal, toenail/fingernail removal, I&D of abscess, laceration repair with sutures/staples/glue, suture/staple removal.
• Women’s Health: Pap smear, wet mount, EMB, contraceptive implant insertion and removal.
• CV: Phlebotomy, Peripheral IV insertion, Arterial puncture/ABG, Removal of central venous line.
• ENT: Cerumen decompaction, removal of foreign body.
• GI: NG Tube Placement
• MSK: Major/Minor Joint Injection/Aspiration, Casting/splinting of UE/LE extremity.
• GU: Foley/Bladder catheterization
• MCH: Vaginal delivery, Cesarean assist, Perineal repair (1st and 2nd degree), Amniotomy, IUPC, FSE Placement, Placement of foley bulb/cook catheter, OB Ultrasound - Fetal position, Placental location, AFI, Newborn Circumcision.
• Advanced Lawndale FMR Procedures: Colposcopy, Vulvar Biopsy, LEEP, Paracentesis, Thoracentesis, Lumbar Puncture, Central line placement, Endotracheal intubation.
• Ultrasound: See POCUS curriculum.

Physical Health ▼

• Residents are provided with a membership to the Lawndale Christian Fitness Center, which is a first-class fitness center with a large variety of strength and aerobic training equipment, an indoor track, and fitness classes for all levels.

• There are also a variety of formal and informal physical activities that LCHC staff participate in together, including bike rides, running groups, sports leagues, and even marathon training, probably the best known being our annual 5K.

• LC Fit is the LCHC Staff Wellness initiative that lets you earn rewards simply by connecting your activity tracker (i.e. Fitbit, phone app, apple watch, etc.) with our wellness platform. Residents can earn Amazon Gift Cards every month depending on points earned.

• In partnership with the Chicago Botanic Garden, Lawndale also sponsors The Farm on Ogden, which features affordable locally-grown vegetables, cooking classes, and other supports for healthy eating.

• We also provide a generous meal stipend for days worked in the hospital ($1,000 per year) and provide lunch for the residency team prior to our didactics every Wednesday.

Mental and Emotional Health ▼

• Confidential behavioral health services are available to all residents from LCHC’s own behavioral health staff and/or a number of external behavioral health providers, including Agave Studio, Cornerstone Counseling Center of Chicago, Meier Clinics, Lydia Home Association, Phoenix Rising Counseling and Guidance, JL Family Services, and Sinai Health System.

• Lawndale FMR regularly conducts and addresses burnout surveys and other self-assessments to support emotional health, and encourages the use of appropriate tools for self-screening, such as: Burnout, Depression, Anxiety and Addiction, Sleepiness.

• Our regular “Wellness Wednesdays” consist of Balint Groups, targeted afternoons for independent wellness (i.e. no didactics), as well as more formal equipping sessions for best practices to prevent and address burnout and for building sustainability in future work.

Spiritual Health ▼

• Lawndale boasts a variety of churches and other spiritual communities to which many of our staff are connected, such as local Bible studies or prayer groups. Our partner churches include Lawndale Community Christian Church, through which LCHC was founded, the New Life Community Church, with several nearby locations where many staff attend, and Harmony Community Church, where LCHC’s CEO also serves as pastor.

• All residents are supported to attend either the Christian Community Health Fellowship Conference or the Global Missions Health Conference each year. These are special times to step away from clinical spaces and reflect and re-energize on mission with kindred souls.

Community Health ▼

• Community is so central to Lawndale FMR that it has its own section on our website, because promoting healthy community is at the heart of what we do. It’s the reason we have a formative Orientation Month for our interns and why we break bread together every Wednesday. Our residents call each other friends, sharing meals and life together, inside and outside of work.

• Our annual residency-wide retreat brings together faculty and all residents (and families!) for a special time of fellowship, rest, and re-energizing for our work together.

• In addition to the annual retreat, residents also have a class retreat in the spring season to promote community and wellness. These are cherished days for the residents to make lasting memories.

• Finally, our residents join faculty and all LCHC providers at the annual LCHC Provider Retreat in January each year. This is a long LCHC tradition that brings together the entire LCHC provider family for a weekend of reflection and encouragement.

• All residents are paired with a LCHC physician mentor to promote resident well-being and personal and professional growth. Mentors respond to and help shape the resident’s Individualized Learning Plan (ILP), self-evaluations (including burnout inventory), electives plans, and vision for post-residency life.