Ochsner Clinic Foundation and University of Queensland-Ochsner Clinical School, New Orleans, LA
Developing a Practical and Sustainable Faculty Development Program with a Focus on Teaching Quality Improvement: An AIAMC National Initiative III Project

Abstract

Background: We developed a faculty development curriculum emphasizing QI and PS. Our project focused on developing a learning environment that fosters resident education in QI and PS.

Methods: A multidisciplinary team developed a survey to assess baseline perceptions of QI tools and training and resident participation in QI and PS programs. We then developed a curriculum to address deficiencies. The curriculum paired residents with faculty. At the completion of the first curriculum cycle, we asked faculty and residents to complete the same survey.

Results: Our pilot survey revealed a need for a comprehensive program to teach faculty and residents the art of teaching. Our follow-up study showed an increase in the number of residents and faculty who reported that their programs were extremely or very good at providing tools to develop skills and habits to practice QI. We also had a statistically significant decrease (15.8%, P=0.0128) in faculty who reported their program as not at all effective at providing resident QI tools and skills. Among residents and faculty, we had a 12% (P=0.2422) and a 38.2% (P=0.0010), respectively, improvement in reported monthly resident involvement in QI and PS projects.

Conclusion: We demonstrated that developing a sustainable and practical faculty development program within a large academic medical center is feasible. Our postimplementation survey demonstrated an improvement in perceived participation in QI, PS, and faculty development among faculty and residents. Future targets will focus on sustaining and spreading the program to all faculty and residents in the institution.