SHM Converge Scientific Abstract ePoster Gallery-The Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Observership: An Educational Curriculum

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The article describes a Quality Improvement and Patient Safety (QI/PS) observership curriculum developed at SUNY Upstate Medical University for international medical graduates preparing for U.S. internal medicine residency. The need arose because ACGME requires residents to engage in QI/PS work, and while the institution already includes progressive QI/PS training throughout residency, pre-residency observer rotations usually focus only on clinical exposure and provide little access to quality metrics or systems-based learning.<br /><br />To address this gap, the authors created a two-week observership that combines clinical experience with structured QI/PS education. Observers work with key faculty and residents, including the quality chief resident, admitting and consulting residents, and the vice-chair for QI/PS. The curriculum introduces foundational topics such as clinical documentation improvement, data analysis, heart failure quality sessions, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement curriculum, medication reconciliation, communication between physicians and nurses, and patient experience metrics. Observers also learn to analyze cases from a quality perspective by performing root cause analyses and attending morbidity and mortality conferences.<br /><br />In addition, observers participate in institutional quality-focused meetings, including Department of Medicine Quality Rounds, Resident Quality Council, the Sepsis Committee, and Morbidity and Mortality Conference. The rotation is delivered through both in-person and virtual formats.<br /><br />The authors conclude that this observership provides a solid foundation in QI/PS principles and helps prepare observers for a smoother transition into U.S. residency training. They also note that the curriculum is adaptable and could be implemented at other institutions interested in enhancing observer education.

Asset Subtitle

Michael Sandhu

Meta Tag

Author List Harvir S. Gambhir, Michael Sandhu

Category Innovations

Concept Quality Improvement

Concept Patient Safety

Concept Root Cause Analysis

Concept Quality Data

Concept Performance Metric

Distinguished Non-Finalist

Presenter Organization SUNY Upstate Medical University

Presenting Author Michael Sandhu

Track Quality Improvement

Keywords

Quality Improvement

Patient Safety

Observership Curriculum

International Medical Graduates

Internal Medicine Residency

ACGME Requirements

Root Cause Analysis

Morbidity and Mortality Conference

Clinical Documentation Improvement

Medication Reconciliation

Quality Improvement

Patient Safety

Root Cause Analysis

Quality Data

Performance Metric