General Practice Residency

One Year Certificate Program: Accepting four residents per year
Accreditation Status: Full accreditation without reporting requirements (10/2007)
Patient Visits: Approximately 4900 patient visits per year
Clinical Operation: The UNMC Adult Dentistry Clinic operates on average 1,790 hours each year, the equivalent of 224 days. Correcting the calendar year for week-ends and holidays, the clinic operates on approximately 90% of the available working weeks each year while the remaining 10% of the time is devoted to didactic work and other service related activities that have been specifically placed into the clinic schedule.

History
Dentistry has been associated with the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s Omaha campus since the 1970’s with the presence of an oral surgery and a pediatric dental residency programs. In 1981, an adult general dentistry clinic was added which was subsequently transformed into a General Practice Residency (GPR) in 1984. This transformation occurred under the guidance of Dean Cherick and Dr. Robert Howell, who acquired federal grant funding to develop the program.

Historically, the GPR has concentrated on developing relationships with the medical services at The Nebraska Medical Center while also meeting the needs of the general community and those “doctoring “at hospital’s clinics. The development of these relationships is an ongoing process that expands our knowledge, aids in the management of medically, physically and mentally challenged patients and fosters the integration of dentistry into medicine. This philosophy is a key element in the accreditation process for general practice residency programs. Being physically close and available to the medical services is of prime importance to the program’s educational and research opportunities.

The general practice residency clinic provides care to UNMC and The Nebraska Medical Center employees as well. The clinic averages 35 hours of clinic time per week and operates 52 weeks out of the year. The GPR has also developed an on-going commitment to community service participating in community health fairs and seeing patients referred by private practitioners for special needs care. Each resident is expected to organize, acquire volunteer support and participate in a health fair or community event during the course of their residency. Since its inception in 1984, over 70 individuals have been trained in the program.

Purpose
The purpose of the General Practice Residency program at the University of Nebraska Medical Center is to train dental residents to deliver comprehensive health care in both the inpatient and outpatient environment as part of a larger team of health care providers with full consideration of the patient's dental and medical needs. Furthermore, the program strives to instill in the resident office management and production skills that can be translatable to their private practice experience after completing their residency.

Goals of the Program

1. Develop the capacity in the generalist to participate in the provision of comprehensive health care in a hospital setting (CODA 1-5:1, 1-5:3).

Obj 1a: to provide foundation knowledge regarding hospital operations.

Obj lb: to develop skills in responding to and directing consultations in the hospital floor or with other clinical services. Obi lc: to develop skills in physical assessment and the understanding of the interplay between the systemic and oral environments.

2. Provide experience as a primary care provider in the delivery of general dental care, emergency care, referred care and the application of behavioral management techniques as relevant to comprehensive health care of the medically, mentally and physically compromised patient as well as the "healthy" patient population (CODA 1-5:1, 1-5:2, 1-5:3).

Obj 2a: to expand on existing foundation knowledge in the areas of operative dentistry, endodontics, periodontics, prosthodontics and oral surgery.

Obj 2b: to develop skills in responding to and directing medical/dental emergency care and pain management in the clinical and emergency room setting.

Obj 2c: to develop skills in physical assessment and the understanding of the interplay between the systemic and oral environments.

Obj 2d: to develop referral skills as well as skills in the diagnosis, assessment, temporization, transitional care and management.

Obi 2e: to develop skills in oral, IV and inhalation sedation and the structuring of the treatment environment or management plan for behavioral modification of patients having varied health backgrounds and oral needs.

3. Train a generalist capable of interacting with other members of an interdisciplinary health care team in a variety of health care situations (CODA 1-5:1, 1-5:3).

Obj 3a: to foster and build relationships between the generalist and other health care members.

Obj 3b: to develop the skills and knowledge to provide dental care in non traditional settings and environments.

Obj 3c: to provide general understanding and application of laboratory and diagnostic techniques in systemic disease.

Obj 3d: to develop knowledge basis in the diagnosis, treatment and management of systemic disease.

4. Refine the clinical skills a generalist brings to the program, providing an opportunity to individualize certain aspects of training while taking into account varying abilities, background and career goals and by applying critical thinking principles, evidence/outcomes based care, and use of information databases in clinical decision making. (CODA 1-5:2).

Obj 4a: To develop skills in critical thinking and analysis of care outcomes applied to clinical practice.

Obj 4b: To develop an understanding of databases and evidenced based care.

5. Develop appropriate attitudes, behavior, preventive and business practices in regard to the profession by providing the opportunity for professional development as a clinician, teacher, researcher, manager, community advocate and administrator (CODA 1-5:2, 1-5:4).

Obj 5a: to develop skills in literature review and the preparation and presentation of a position paper to laymen or a collection of peers within the health care field.

Obj 5b: to develop ethic behaviors compatible with the profession and the appreciation of diversity.

Obj 5c: To foster an understanding of basic principles of practice management.

Obj 5d: To foster the concept of life long learning and professional growth including service to the community.

For additional information about the UNMC General Practice Residency program please follow the links to the College of Dentistry’s Postgraduate programs or contact Dr. Ken King, program director (402) 559-7954.