SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Hospitalist-Facilitated Case Discussions Augment Preclinical Health Policy Education

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This pilot study evaluated whether hospitalist-facilitated, case-based discussions could improve a preclinical health policy course for first-year medical students at the University of Chicago. The course already included lectures and peer-educator-led small groups, but the authors added hospitalists—physicians focused mainly on clinical care—to lead discussions on high-value care, physician reimbursement, and prescription drug pricing.<br /><br />Students completed voluntary surveys after each session, rating the educational value of different learning formats. Of 91 students, 89 responded after the high-value care and physician payment sessions, and 73 responded after the drug pricing session. Most students reported strong engagement with the hospitalist-led format: 83% said hospitalists improved their small group experience, and 85% said the clinical cases improved it. The majority of respondents (82%) felt their learning was strongest from hospitalist-led case discussions, compared with 60% for didactic lectures and 25% for readings.<br /><br />Hospitalist-led sessions were rated as the most valuable learning component in two of the three small group topics, and they were associated with the lowest self-reported absenteeism. Students also generally rated these discussions higher than small groups without hospitalists present.<br /><br />The authors conclude that hospitalists, even without formal health policy training, may play a valuable role in teaching health systems and policy through realistic clinical case discussions. They note limitations including a single-institution design, one cohort, and a lower response rate for the drug pricing session. Future work should test this approach at more sites and explore how to further improve learner outcomes.

Asset Subtitle

Gregory Ruhnke

Meta Tag

Author List Gregory Ruhnke, Nihar Rama, Prachi Shah, Venkatesan R. Krishnamoorthi

Category Innovations

Concept Health Policy Education

Concept Case-Based Discussion

Concept Realistic Clinical Case

Concept Hospitalist

Concept Preclinical Medical Student

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Department of Medicine, Section of Hospital Medicine, University of Chicago

Presenting Author Gregory Ruhnke

Track Education

Keywords

hospitalist-led discussions

health policy education

medical students

case-based learning

high-value care

physician reimbursement

drug pricing

small group teaching

preclinical course

health systems policy

Health Policy Education

Case-Based Discussion

Realistic Clinical Case

Hospitalist

Preclinical Medical Student