Resident Experience and Education in Academic and Community Pediatric Primary Care Sites: Lessons for a Changing Healthcare Landscape

Introduction: Efforts to improve pediatric primary care training in residency are important both for the residents and for the patients cared for in residency clinics. Pediatric residents typically get their primary care training at primary care centers affiliated with an academic center or at community-based locations. We aimed to compare residents’ experience of continuity clinic in academic centers and community settings, and to identify relative strengths and weaknesses of each. Methods: Survey data was evaluated for residents at one large pediatric residency program. Results: Community sites had relative strengths in patient flow, population management, and perception of overall quality of care. Academic sites had relative strengths in continuity of care and ease of follow-up of results. Conclusions: Community and academic pediatric primary care training sites have varied strengths that could inform efforts to improve residency training to better meet the needs of residents and patients.