New residence program at EIRMC addresses Idaho’s doctor shortage
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IDAHO FALLS — A new residence program at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center is focused on bringing new doctors to the area – a challenge eastern Idaho has faced for years.
Dr. Doug Whatmore tells EastIdahoNews.com implementing a learning environment has created “a whole different animal” transitioning EIRMC from a “doing hospital” to a “teaching hospital.”
There is a significant need for doctors to treat eastern Idaho’s growing population. A new report shows Idaho ranks 49th in the nation for doctors per capita.
“Idaho has been growing at six percent from 2010 to 2015. We assume it’s going to continue to grow. We have a chance here to choose who we liked to come in as doctors, to people who would like to be in the area and stay and practice,” Whatmore says.
The residency program had over 900 applicants with just 10 slots in the program. Some of the doctors chosen have come from other countries after practicing medicine. Whatmore says these individuals are required to complete an accredited residency program.
The new residents participate in rigorous instruction in addition to traditional patient care. Whatmore says the resident’s vast knowledge of medicine obtained in medical school needs practical application gained through a residency program.
Residents spend their three years at EIRMC attending to different aspects of hospital care ranging from emergency medicine to inpatient care.
While the residents create treatment programs, the overseeing medical staff will give final input, providing a patient with the most comprehensive care.
Whatmore said patients have expressed their satisfaction with the new residents in their first few weeks of the program.
“There’s only a limited number of hours in a day and a limited time you can spend with each patient. The resident is going to carry far fewer patients,” says Whatmore.
This increased time given to patients allows the residents to spend more face time, in turn, creating higher patient satisfaction.
Dr. Paul Stanford, one of the residents of the program, has plenty of face to face interaction with patients. Before arriving at EIRMC, he was a paramedic in his home state of Montana for nine years.
He says he chose to complete his residency at EIRMC so he could provide care to those in his home region while being close to family.
The residency program at EIRMC is in its first year which Stanford says provides him with a unique experience he could not find anywhere else.
“As the core group of residents that start this program, we can kind of make this program what it needs to be and set the bar for everyone else,” Stanford says.
Those who visit EIRMC can expect to see the 10 new residents in areas throughout the hospital. Each year, 10 additional residents will be added until the number reaches 30.