What if the rural residency program does not match?
It is not a disaster or an indication that this is a weak program. Rural Training Tracks can operate well without a full complement of residents because they are functioning rural practices that are not totally dependent on residents to cover services. Because the instruction is individualized, RTT’s seek well qualified applicants who will fit well with the practice. They are willing to leave positions unfilled until there are quality candidates. Do you feel uncomfortable meeting your patients in the grocery store or on the street? Not at all. In rural areas, your patients are often your neighbors and friends. They tend to respect your role as a physician, but are able to separate the private and professional life. There seems to be more of a recognized interdependence on one another in a small community. I haven’t had any problem with people infringing on my private life to ask medical questions. How do you find out about the RTT’s all over the country? The internet is the most conven
