Mercy / Methodist Hospital of Sacramento Family Practice Residency Program

Top ten reasons for choosing our program by our current residents:

* Supportive and approachable faculty

* Happy residents/friendly residents

* Location

* Practice management training

* Community based program/unopposed program

* Clinic and outpatient training

* Call schedule

* Friendly but competent work environment

* Curriculum/Didactics

* Strong inpatient training/Mercy General Hospital

The residents in our Family Practice program wanted to have one page that summarizes the things that we consider our strengths, the things that make them proud to be part of it.   Take a look at the items below and you will see what makes us really stand out.

*  In the last two visits by the accreditation inspectors from the ACGME, we were given the best possible report. This is a rare honor that we feel justifies our claim to be "A Program of Excellence!"  

*  Didactics: We have a well-designed and comprehensive didactic curriculum including lectures by core faculty and numerous community specialists who share their expertise and experience. We are proud to have a top-notch practice management curriculum.  Residents learn the nuts and bolts of contract negotiations, income and expense sheets, staffing, and overhead, to prepare them for today's managed-care environment. In addition, our curriculum includes several skill- building workshops. 

*  Call Schedule and Night Float: We have a very humane call schedule.  The R1's average Q7 in-house call, covering our inpatient FM/Medicine service at Methodist Hospital, supervised by the senior resident on call. R2's and R3's have the night float system, which lets them get all their weekday call for the year done in 2 two-week blocks.   Find out more about our call system here .

*  Mercy General Hospital: The experience we get at MGH is unique and challenging.  We get to manage patients with more independence, and we work with an urban underserved population that has pathology not often seen in more suburban or affluent areas.  Think of it as "attending boot camp."  This training helps our residents gain confidence and experience in handling difficult cases.  Find out more about inpatient medicine on our curriculum page .

*  Diversity of patient population: Methodist Hospital has an ethnically diverse patient base, with Caucasians, African Americans, Asians, and Hispanics represented.  We deal with cultural issues relating to health care and with economic and social issues as well.  With our pediatric coverage encompassing most of Sacramento, our inpatient pediatric service at Mercy San Juan has a high volume for a community hospital.  Mercy General deals with a more urban clientele, including indigent and immigrant populations.  Whatever you're looking for, you'll find it here.

*  Attendings: Our Family Medicine faculty are young and energetic, eager to teach, with individual areas of expertise, providing a good blend of talents and experience.  Several attendings we work with on our medicine service and specialty rotations were on Sacramento Magazine's December 2001 "Sacramento's Best Docs" list.  We also have the privilege to work closely with the UC-Davis Pediatric Hospitalists and Intensivists who supervise our pediatric inpatient and critical care step-down services. The diversity of background and experience of faculty, residents and staff enrich our knowledge, experience and skill working with diverse population.

*  We are a community-based program, family medicine only.  There are no other residents in either hospital but ours.  This means we do not have to compete with other residents for procedures or cases, we have less "turf wars" and get a larger variety of patients.  We feel that this prepares our residents to go into any kind of practice, from urban HMO groups to rural solo / small group practice.

* Behavioral Science: We truly integrate the biopsychosocial model into our patient care in both the clinic and inpatient setting. Our behavioral scientist is a member of the core faculty and works daily alongside our faculty.   

*  Our program offers generous benefits, including a $300 yearly educational allowance, no-cost health benefits (including all enrolled dependents), free parking, free meals while on duty, AAFP annual dues for R1s, and the program pays for the first round of medical licensure fees ($900).  Residents also receive a taxable $700 bonus to purchase a PDA and software of their choice. Up-To-Date is provided to residents throughout the hospital and from a remote access.  Learn more about our benefits here .

*  Our program's leadership is responsive to resident needs and concerns.  They stand behind us and are open-minded about doing things to make our program better.

*  We have a very family-friendly program.  We work hard, and our residents get plenty of experience, but we like to let our residents have a life too.  The night float rotations and friendly call schedule allow us to spend time with our families and with each other socially.

*  We are a D.O. friendly program.  Many of our residents are graduates of schools of Osteopathic Medicine.  

*  Sacramento is just a great place to live.  We have close proximity to all kinds of recreation and cultural events, including skiing, salmon fishing, hiking, concerts, theater, and much, much more!  Check out our Sacramento Area Resources page for more information.

*  Finally, our program is like a family.  Many of our faculty are on a first-name basis with the residents, and everyone works hard to make this program great!  We have many social events, including journal club, picnics, and informal get-togethers (amazing pot-lucks), and we all get to know each other.  We love being here and hope you will find your place here with us!