Implementation of a resident-led osteopathic manipulative treatment clinic in an allopathic residency

Abstract

Context: With the growing number of osteopathic physicians practicing in the United States and the creation of a single graduate medical education system, a continued need exists for focused education in osteopathic principles, philosophy, and treatment modalities in primarily allopathic residency programs. Objective: To create and integrate a resident-led osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) clinic in an allopathic residency program. Methods: After an informal needs assessment on the basis of resident survey data, a resident-led OMT clinic was created within a military allopathic family medicine residency program. A standard operating procedure, resident survey, and scheduling system were created by the residents for approval by the departmental and hospital leadership. Resident survey data pertaining to the time available to perform OMT, education, and faculty supervision of OMT were obtained before the clinic implementation and 1 year after implementation. Results: Nine osteopathic residents were surveyed before the OMT clinic implementation to illustrate a need for continued osteopathic medical education, faculty support, and skill maintenance. Sixteen osteopathic residents were surveyed after the OMT clinic implementation. More residents indicated that the establishment of an osteopathic curriculum was important (3 of 9 in the preclinic survey vs 9 of 16 in the postclinic survey) and that the program promoted the use of OMT (0 of 9 in the preclinic survey vs 13 of 16 in the postclinic survey). Conclusion: A resident-led OMT clinic can be successfully implemented, maintained, and expanded in an allopathic residency program by implementing an OMT curriculum, offering elective rotations, and encouraging regular use of OMT. The current project can be used as a framework for implementing an OMT clinic.