A process for developing a rural training track.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This article describes the process used by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Family Practice Residency Program to establish its first rural training track (RTT) in Baraboo, Wis. The process includes 1) establishing a core planning group to develop rural site selection criteria with specifications on distance traveled, faculty composition, teaching commitment, rural hospital capabilities, and availability of subspecialty teaching, 2) involvement of the state Area Health Education Center, 3) budget planning, 4) telecommunications plans, including e-mail, library search, and Internet connectivity, 5) creation of a residency curriculum in collaboration with the rural site's faculty and staff, 6) preparing an accreditation document to submit to the Residency Review Committee, and 7) faculty development programs for rural faculty. The program then participates in the National Residency Matching Program with an independent Match number.