Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, Baton Rouge, LA
Improving Resident Education of Patient Safety: A Campuswide Initiative

Abstract

Background: Residency programs at our institution were implementing patient safety curricula in a variety of ways but rarely communicated with one another. The objective of this project was to develop and implement a campuswide, standardized learning experience to enhance residents' knowledge of patient safety.

Methods: In phase 1, coinvestigators from 5 residency programs brainstormed a standardized learning experience. The working group determined that using text message reminders to facilitate patient safety discussions on hospital-based rounds would be a novel and accessible means of engaging faculty and residents. Participating faculty were provided with a training video that modeled how to incorporate patient safety discussions on rounds. Phase 2 was a pilot study that began in spring 2014. During a 2-month period, participating faculty received weekly text reminders to discuss patient safety on rounds. Residents on hospital-based rotations participated in the safety rounds initiative, and residents on alternative rotations served as a control group.

Results: We observed increases in resident perceptions of the culture of quality and patient safety at our institution as a result of our initiative, particularly in the communication and event reporting sections of the modified AHRQ survey (administered pre/post pilot). Ninety-five percent of faculty who completed the follow-up survey reported that they were continuing to incorporate patient safety discussions on rounds after the pilot phase.

Conclusions: We believe this standardized learning experience led to an increased sense of ownership of quality and patient safety on the part of our physician learners and teachers, as evidenced by significant movement in residents' perceptions and reporting activity. Additionally, our experience in NI IV brought faculty and residents out of departmental silos and engaged them to work with quality leaders at the hospital to improve patient safety outcomes. This collaborative momentum yielded an additional outcome: the creation of a quality and patient safety fellowship beginning in academic year 2015.