A New Approach to Teaching Ambulatory Medicine

TRADITIONALLY, emphasis on clinical teaching in medical schools and hospitals is centered around the inpatient services where acutely ill patients, frequently in the terminal stages of illness, and others, afflicted with rare diseases, receive care. Less time and effort are directed toward teaching and investigation in the outpatient clinic. That the patient admitted to many university hospitals presents problems not commonly observed by the practicing physician is emphasized by the studies of White et al.,1 who found that in a population of 1000 adults, 750 will experience an illness in an average month. Of this number, 250 will consult a . . .