SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Improving the Inter-Hospital Transfer Process Through Education: An Interactive Curriculum to Teach Residents About Inter-Hospital Transfers

Pdf Summary

This project describes an interactive curriculum designed to improve internal medicine residents’ knowledge and confidence in managing inter-hospital transfers (IHTs) at the VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System in Nashville. The initiative was motivated by the fact that IHTs are high-risk transitions of care associated with worse outcomes, including higher inpatient mortality, longer length of stay, higher costs, and lower likelihood of discharge home. Despite these risks, little prior literature exists on formal education about the IHT process.<br /><br />The curriculum was created for residents on a 2-week night float rotation and includes four main components: standardized education, experiential learning, documentation, and feedback. At the start of each rotation, residents receive a structured IHT teaching session that combines a brief lecture with interactive discussion. This session covers prior poor transfer experiences, the importance of standardization, best practices, legal considerations, and a case-based role-playing exercise. During the rotation, residents participate in all IHT calls with hospitalist backup and final decision-making authority remaining with the hospitalist. Residents also document transfer conversations using a standardized template focused on key details. After each call, they receive real-time feedback. In the second week of the rotation, residents meet with the hospitalist to reflect on recent transfers and identify what went well and what could be improved.<br /><br />To evaluate the curriculum, residents complete REDCap surveys before and after the rotation to measure changes in knowledge and confidence. This work has been approved as exempt quality improvement activity by the VA IRB, and data collection began in August 2021.<br /><br />Overall, the project shows that it is feasible to implement a practical educational program to teach best practices for IHTs and potentially help spread safer transfer processes through resident education.

Asset Subtitle

Krista Suojanen

Meta Tag

Author List Derek Pae MD, Kelly Sopko, Krista Suojanen, Peter E. Paik

Category Innovations

Concept Pediatric Inter-Hospital Transfer

Concept Transitional Care

Concept Triage

Concept Documentation Template

Concept Residency Training

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville VA Medical Center

Presenting Author Krista Suojanen

Track Transitions of Care

Keywords

inter-hospital transfers

internal medicine residents

curriculum

high-risk transitions of care

standardized education

experiential learning

documentation template

real-time feedback

night float rotation

REDCap surveys

Pediatric Inter-Hospital Transfer

Transitional Care

Triage

Documentation Template

Residency Training