Loma Linda University Medical Center Psychiatry Resident Rotation Program

About the Program

Category: Personnel Management, Employment and Training (Best in Category)

Year: 2014

A shortage of psychiatrists in San Bernardino County was identified during a behavioral health workforce needs assessment conducted in 2008. Several strategies were tried with little success. Competition from state hospitals and other medical groups who paid more made hiring new psychiatrists a challenge because they did not gain exposure to community mental health during their residency program. In the summer of 2013, the Loma Linda University Medical Center Psychiatry Resident Rotation Program was created. In partnership with Loma Linda University Medical Center, starting October 2013, San Bernardino County Department of Behavioral Health (DBH) hosts a fourth-year Psychiatry Resident. While at DBH the resident reports to three attending physicians and their programs, including two community outpatient clinics and one specialty forensics program. The Medical Director spends the first day with the resident to discuss the importance of community mental health. The success of the program is evident in that DBH has already hired three residents, or 50% of the residents that have completed the program to date, to work as psychiatrists in DBH clinics. They will begin in June 2014 upon graduation. This would not have been possible without the introduction to community mental health as part of this residency program.