With health reform, an increased demand for just the type of
doctors we train will rise dramatically. Our program, which trains residents to
become multi-talented family physicians, has been recognized nationally for
years. It attracts more than 700 applicants every year, eager to be considered for one of our 14 positions. Most of our residents - who come from across the country - stay in
Contra Costa to practice medicine here. The success of the program is a credit
to the amazing work of our doctors and staff who oversee the training of the
residents.
I’m always inspired by the dedication of our residents. The
financial pressure to become a specialist is immense these days, yet our
residents eagerly choose to be trained as family doctors in a safety-net health
system. Why do they make that choice? As one of our residents explains in her
profile on our program webpage, “I wanted to learn how to take care of patients, not
just hearts or hernias or kidneys. I decided to come to Martinez for the
people.”
Her comment epitomizes who we are and what we do here. Health care
delivery is more than treating an illness, injury or virus. The best health
care involves ongoing relationships between patients and their providers and
care team. In our system, we have many physicians– including Contra Costa
Health Services Director Dr. William Walker – who have cared for the same
patients for decades.
It makes me proud to work in a patient-centered health system that is often called a model for health reform. But what makes
me the most proud are the people who make our system work – they are the ones making
health reform a reality.
More very soon,
Anna
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