SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Building Synergy Between Trainee Qi and Hospital Improvement Priorities

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This document describes a quality improvement (QI) incentive program that aligns graduate medical education (GME) trainee projects with hospital-wide improvement priorities. Because residents and fellows are a key link between patient care and system goals, the program was designed to engage them in meaningful QI work while meeting ACGME training requirements.<br /><br />The hospital offers an annual incentive of $500 per resident for participation in approved group QI projects. Projects are completed at the program level and must be approved by the health system’s Quality and Safety department. The program is open to nearly 900 residents and fellows across 85 programs, with about 550 participants from up to 30 programs each year.<br /><br />The goals are to improve patient outcomes, provide trainees with access to relevant data and quality support, and encourage work that benefits both education and the health system. Over time, the program has become more closely aligned with hospital strategic priorities.<br /><br />Examples of projects from FY23 include:<br />- Central line dashboard improvements, reducing CVL days from 0.58 to 0.33<br />- Reducing overnight neuro-checks, which lowered delirium by 13% and length of stay by 1.1 days<br />- Improving 10 a.m. discharge orders, increasing rates from 29% to 55%<br />- Reducing morning labs, though this showed no change<br />- Advanced care planning documentation, which increased Epic SmartPhrase use 19-fold<br /><br />The program has been well received by both the hospital and training programs, and many projects have continued beyond the initial incentive period, leading to presentations and publications. In FY25, the initiative will shift toward a more standardized pay-for-performance model with a much larger incentive and stricter project requirements. The program is also planned to expand to additional training programs in the regional network.

Asset Subtitle

Benjamin Kalivas

Meta Tag

Author List Benjamin Kalivas, Danielle B. Scheurer, David Bundy

Category Innovations

Concept Hospital-wide Quality Improvement Initiatives

Concept Quality Improvement Project

Concept Graduate Medical Education Trainees

Concept Resident Incentive Program

Concept Quality and Safety Department

Distinguished Finalist

Presenter Organization Medical University of South Carolina

Presenting Author Benjamin Kalivas

Track Quality Improvement

Keywords

quality improvement

graduate medical education

resident incentive program

hospital priorities

patient outcomes

ACGME training requirements

quality and safety

QI projects

pay-for-performance

clinical education

Hospital-wide Quality Improvement Initiatives

Quality Improvement Project

Graduate Medical Education Trainees

Resident Incentive Program

Quality and Safety Department