The family practice center in Augusta, called the Family Medicine Institute (FMI), is a long established practice serving about 7,600 patients with approximately 25,500 outpatient visits per year. About six residents in each class practice here, and approximately fifteen physicians, five PA/NPs, a nurse midwife, and a psychologist make up the clinical faculty based at this site. A clinical social worker and social work case managers are also embedded in the practice.
Located at 15 E. Chestnut Street in Augusta, the FMI is a two-story building with 10 patient exam rooms on the first floor and 24 patient exam rooms on the second floor. Each resident is assigned two exam rooms while seeing patients. A procedure suite provides additional learning opportunities; colposcopy, vasectomy, cryosurgery, and other minor surgery are performed at the practice.
The practice is divided into four patient care teams. A typical care team configuration comprises:
- Four medical assistants
- One licensed nurse
- One patient services representative
- One nurse practitioner or physician assistant
- Three family medicine physicians
- Four to six family medicine residents
Close, supportive relationships between residents and practice teams are a hallmark of training at the FMI.
The facility has a teaching area/library and an area for patient education, as well as conference room space. Residents share a large common workspace on the second floor with individual seating areas and computers.
The general hours of operation are Mon-Fri 8 AM to 5 PM. An open access scheduling system allows patients to be seen within 48 hours of their request.