The Feasibility of Longitudinal Patient Contacts in a Large Medical School.

Problem: Longitudinal patient contacts are being implemented worldwide as a way to enhance a patient-centered orientation among medical students. In large medical schools, longitudinal integrated clerkships may not be feasible, so other ways must be sought to expose students to prolonged contact with patients.

Intervention: Medical students were attached to a family practice and assigned a panel of 4 patients to follow over the 3 years of their clinical training.