Intern orientation: obstacle or opportunity?

Abstract

Orientation programs for medical interns generally bombard new physicians with a barrage of information from the hospital director of medical education, the chief executive officer, and other hospital personnel, as well as from a number of outside speakers. Advanced cardiac life-support training and social events round out the orientation program, which typically lasts 3 to 4 days. The authors propose a three-phase orientation program that begins even before the intern reports for duty and continues for an estimated 6-month period thereafter. This seemingly long-term time investment will foster good relations between employer and employee, thereby helping to encourage the intern to stay on as a resident and staff physician. Such commitment can only enhance the growth of the osteopathic medical education programs.