Abstract
Background: A 2010 safety attitudes questionnaire showed a disparity in safety culture and stress recognition among our residency programs. Demanding work hours, high amounts of debt from medical education, emotional exhaustion, and decreased sense of control cultivate resident burnout, which negatively impacts patient safety and QI. We sought to implement a sustainable curriculum that would better monitor stress recognition and resident burnout while also improving resilience and the safety culture in GME.
Methods: Project staff developed and distributed burnout surveys to all program residents and incoming interns. Based on the results of a curricular needs assessment, a resilience and safety curriculum was implemented in 3 of 4 residency programs. Project staff also introduced a monthly interdisciplinary conference.
Results: Initial data showed the need for change that reinforced buy-in. Interdisciplinary conferences were well attended. CME is now offered to attending physicians for participation in QI and safety lectures. We have seen a gradual but palpable shift in the safety culture. Survey results after intervention are pending.
Conclusions: Residents in all specialties exhibit moderate to high amounts of burnout; burnout was evident even in incoming interns. As burnout is directly related to patient safety, it is essential that residents receive training in resilience. We will implement curriculum changes in the remaining residency program, continue to develop the new standard for morbidity and mortality (M&M) conferences, and introduce new resilience conferences.
FINAL WORK PLAN – Riverside Methodist Hospital
- © Academic Division of Ochsner Clinic Foundation
