Frequently Asked Questions

Will I have autonomy in the care of my patients? 

As a resident physician at Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital and Chapa-De Indian Health, you will be responsible for the care of your own patients. The attending family medicine faculty will serve as your supervisors and advisors, providing guidance while you maintain primary responsibility for your patients' care.

Does your Program adhere to residency work hour limits? 

Yes, our program strictly adheres to the ACGME residency work hour limits of 80 hours per week, averaged over a four-week period. We comply with these limits not only because they are required, but also because we believe they are essential for the well-being of our residents and the quality of care for our patients. Additionally, due to our night float system, many of our rotations have little to no on-call responsibility. 

How much didactic time is there? Are residents protected from other duties during their dedicated educational time? 

Our residents have a robust didactic curriculum with protected educational time every Wednesday afternoon from 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM. During this time, residents are excused from their clinical duties to attend didactic and interactive sessions, which are led by our Family Medicine faculty, residents, and visiting subspecialists. Monthly journal clubs and morbidity and mortality (M&M) conferences are also part of the curriculum. 

Residents are not scheduled for clinical work during these educational sessions and are expected to attend unless they are on inpatient service, attending to urgent patient care (such as a code or delivery), or on night float, vacation, or an emergency medicine rotation. 

What sort of elective opportunities will I have? 

Electives provide residents the opportunity to tailor their education to align with their individual career goals. Available electives include Cardiology, Dermatology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, Infectious Disease, Hematology/Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Community Medicine, Pulmonology, Urology, Urgent Care, Global Health, Sports Medicine, OMT, Hospice and Palliative Care, and Hospital Medicine.

Residents will have the opportunity to see patients in various community clinics and private offices of these subspecialists. Inpatient rotations are arranged at Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital. 

What is a clinic session in our continuity clinic like? 

Clinic sessions involve a mix of acute care, preventive health, and chronic disease management. First-year residents begin by seeing four patients per half-day, gradually increasing to six patients per half-day by the final quarter of the academic year. Second-year residents start with six patients in the first two quarters, gradually increasing to nine patients per half-day in the last two quarters. By the third year, residents see nine patients per half-day. 

Outpatient faculty physicians are always available in the clinic to provide precepting, consult on patient care, and offer teaching opportunities. 

Will I have the opportunity to do scholarly activity? 

Residents are required to complete two scholarly activities, with at least one being a quality improvement project, to meet the ACGME requirement. Throughout their training, residents develop projects longitudinally and have the option to complete a two-week research elective. 

Do I have a prenatal continuity delivery requirement? 

In accordance with ACGME requirements, residents must gain experience in prenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum care for the same patient as part of a continuity of care relationship. Our program requires every resident to complete a minimum of 10 continuity deliveries prior to graduation. This requirement is designed to honor the family physician-family relationship and the continuity of care model. 

Residents begin by following their prenatal patients during their continuity clinic starting in the first trimester, continuing through delivery and postpartum care.

Do I have a nursing home requirement? 

To fulfill the ACGME requirement for 24 months of nursing home experience, residents begin in their PGY-2 year by following two to three continuity nursing home patients at Golden Empire Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. 

Does your Family Medicine Residency Program accept IMGs?

Yes, our program accepts IMGs. 

Does your Family Medicine Residency Program accept DOs? 

Yes, our program accepts DOs. We are affiliated with Touro University, and their medical students have the option to rotate at Chapa-De Indian Health. 

What Electronic Medical Record is used at the Family Practice Site? 

Our outpatient continuity clinic at Chapa-De Indian Health currently utilizes eClinicalWorks as its Electronic Medical Record and there are no plans to transition to a different EMR in the near future. 

What Electronic Medical Record is used at Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital? 

Sierra Nevada Memorial Hospital currently utilizes Cerner as its Electronic Medical Records. 

Does your Program work with a socioeconomically underserved population? 

Yes, Chapa-De Indian Health is a Tribal Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), and we care for a predominantly underserved patient population. The majority of our patients are covered by Medi-Cal, California's Medicaid program for low-income individuals. We also serve patients with Medicare or no insurance. In the hospital, we

provide care to all patients, with our inpatient population consisting of a mix of uninsured, Medi-Cal, Medicare, and privately insured individuals. 

Does your Program sponsor visas? 

Our program does not directly sponsor J-1 or H1 visas but we do accept ECFMG sponsored J-1 Visas. Noncitizens will be asked to provide a copy of a document that establishes employment authorization by the date of their interview. A list of acceptable documents can be found at http://www.uscis.gov/files/form/i-9.pdf. 

What fun things are there to do in and around Grass Valley?

Nestled in the heart of the Sierra Nevada Foothills, Grass Valley is a charming town rich in history and outdoor adventure. It offers both captivating nostalgia and innovative entertainment for residents and visitors alike. Located halfway between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe, Grass Valley is approximately 1.5 hours from each, providing easy access to both city life and alpine recreation. 

The area is surrounded by multiple lakes and rivers, with picturesque creeks meandering through the city, offering a range of outdoor activities including hiking, fishing, boating, and camping. Grass Valley is also home to a vibrant arts and culture scene, with local museums, galleries, and theaters providing year-round entertainment. The town hosts several festivals and events, such as the Grass Valley Fair and the Cornish Christmas, reflecting its unique cultural heritage. 

For more details on local attractions, events, and activities, please visit the Grass Valley Chamber of Commerce website: Grass Valley Chamber of Commerce. 

What hotels can I stay at? 

If you are planning to travel to Grass Valley to explore the area, we recommend flying into Sacramento International Airport, which is about 1.5 hours south of Grass Valley.

While Reno and San Francisco airports are also options, they are farther away and may involve more traffic. 

Public transportation from these airports is limited, so we suggest renting a car for convenience. For overnight accommodations, we recommend the following hotels: 

Grass Valley:

Holbrooke Hotel 212 W Main St, Grass Valley, CA 95945 | (530) 460-4078

Goldminers Inn 121 Bank St, Grass Valley, CA 95945 | (530) 477-1700

Nevada City:

National Exchange Hotel 211 Broad St, Nevada City, CA 95959 | (530) 362-7605
There are also many airbnb options.