SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Elevating Clinical Practice From Day One: Standardized, Multimodal Onboarding Experience Every Hospital Medicine Physician Deserves

Pdf Summary

This document describes a quality improvement project to strengthen hospitalist onboarding at UC San Diego Health. The team identified that the existing onboarding process left new hires feeling variably prepared for their first shifts, uncertain about workflows, and inconsistent in their understanding of local policies and the EMR.<br /><br />To assess the problem, they sent a 10-question electronic survey with open-ended responses to 13 hospitalists who had gone through the existing onboarding process (EOP). Analysis showed recurring gaps in workflow clarity, EMR optimization, and understanding of division expectations such as pager access and shift structure. Most respondents had substantial prior experience, including attending-level work and Epic use, suggesting the problem was not general inexperience but lack of institution-specific guidance.<br /><br />In response, the division created an improved onboarding process (IOP), a standardized multimodal program. Key interventions included:<br />- standardized shadowing across both practice sites<br />- a hands-on hospitalist-specific EMR setup session<br />- searchable HM 101 and workflow quick-guides with hyperlinks<br />- structured schedules for the first week and first month<br />- a formal buddy program with clearly defined roles<br /><br />The same survey was then administered to six hospitalists onboarded with the new process. Early feedback was positive: new hires reported improved preparedness, better understanding of shift structure and responsibilities, and appreciation for the HM 101 guide and buddy support. Focused shadowing and being placed on a non-teaching team for the first rotation were also seen as helpful.<br /><br />The authors conclude that a structured, multimodal onboarding program improved readiness, reduced early inefficiencies and errors, and supported smoother integration into the division. Future plans include standardized faculty training, short pre-recorded policy videos, and periodic check-ins during the first year.

Asset Subtitle

Kristina Djekic

Meta Tag

Author List Kristina Djekic, Talya Bordin-Wosk

Category Innovations

Concept Hospital Medicine Onboarding

Concept Workflow Clarity

Concept Electronic Health Record

Concept Standardized Onboarding Program

Concept Structured Shadowing

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization UC San Diego Health

Presenting Author Kristina Djekic

Track Quality Improvement

Keywords

hospitalist onboarding

quality improvement

UC San Diego Health

workflow clarity

EMR optimization

standardized onboarding

shadowing

buddy program

HM 101 guide

new hire preparedness

Hospital Medicine Onboarding

Workflow Clarity

Electronic Health Record

Standardized Onboarding Program

Structured Shadowing