SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-Structured Peer Observation With a Novel Focus on Clinical Operations

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This document describes a structured peer observation program for hospitalist faculty at a single urban academic medical center, with a novel emphasis on clinical operations in addition to teaching skills. The program involved 34 of 44 faculty members (77%) during the 2021–2022 academic year. Faculty were paired in dyads; each clinician was observed once while leading housestaff teaching rounds. Before the session, the observed faculty member identified one operations-related and one education-related area for feedback.<br /><br />Observers attended rounds for 90–120 minutes and completed a real-time Qualtrics feedback form covering domains such as rounding session management, workflow management, patient care management, positive learning climate, patient-centered teaching, and trainee development. A same-day debrief followed the observation, and participants completed a follow-up survey 12 months later.<br /><br />The program was well received: 95% of post-observation respondents were satisfied, and 68% of participants responded to the 12-month survey. Many faculty were already confident in their teaching ability, so they most often requested feedback on workflow management rather than education strategies. Roughly half of the observed behavior change related to operations, including patient triage for team rounds, workflow flexibility, and incorporating patient safety discussions during rounds. Common practical pearls included seeing patients with potential for early discharge before rounds, defining roles, using a whiteboard for plans, allowing interns to break off for tasks, and using discharge checklists.<br /><br />The authors conclude that emphasizing operational behaviors broadens the value of peer observation, is low-cost and administratively feasible, and may improve hospitalist practice. They note that future work should assess whether the program improves inpatient outcomes such as discharge timing and readmissions.

Asset Subtitle

Joyce Kim

Meta Tag

Author List Andrew Orr, Ashok Linganna, Joyce Kim, Margot E. Cohen

Category Innovations

Concept Structured Peer Observation

Concept Clinical Teaching Rounds

Concept Rounding Efficiency

Concept Team-Based Workflow

Concept Learning Climate

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization University of Pennsylvania

Presenting Author Joyce Kim

Track Quality Improvement

Keywords

peer observation

hospitalist faculty

clinical operations

teaching rounds

workflow management

patient care management

faculty development

feedback form

patient safety

academic medical center

Structured Peer Observation

Clinical Teaching Rounds

Rounding Efficiency

Team-Based Workflow

Learning Climate