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Our Internal Medicine program started transitioning to this model of block scheduling in 2015. Unlike the traditional scheduling model which adds a weekly continuity clinic into a residents existing rotations and duties, this curricular redesign separates continuity clinic into a separate rotation that is repeated longitudinally throughout the year. The “Y” block, or ambulatory block, is 2 weeks in duration and includes the resident’s continuity clinic, weekly academic half day, and additional outpatient subspecialty experiences. The “X” block is 6 weeks in duration, which can be broken into 3 different 2-week rotations or a 4-week rotation (such as ward or ICU) with a 2-week rotation.
Block 1 | Block 2 | Block 3 | Block 4 | Block 5 | Block 6 | Block 7 | Block 8... |
Ward | Ward | Clinic Block (Group C) |
Elective | MICU | MICU | Clinic Block (Group C) |
... |
Elective | Clinic Block (Group B) |
Ward | Ward | Elective | Clinic Block (Group B) |
MICU | ... |
Each year in residency is divided into 26 2-week blocks, with residents rotating into their clinic block every 8 weeks. Above you see part of the schedule for a resident in Clinic Group C and Clinic Group B. At any given time, 25% of our residents are in the Clinic Block.
Here are some of the benefits of block scheduling (X+Y):