LAUSR

Since the start of the new millennium, optimization of Quality and Patient Safety (QPS) has taken a renewed focus in the healthcare industry. Consequently, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education has mandated that QPS be a part of residency training. We have previously presented our curriculum designed to meet the specific needs of Pathology training programs, and covering four content areas: Handoffs, Error Management, Laboratory Administration, and Process Improvement. We are now presenting implementation. To implement this curriculum, we 1) created online modules for self-directed learning on basic topics (using courses developed by IHI and CAP, and assigned articles), and paired these with faculty-facilitated interactive learning activities on more complex topics, including proficiency testing, root cause analysis and test utilization, 2) assigned every resident to a QPS project that was aligned with departmental priorities, led by a faculty advisor, and ran over 8- 10 months, and 3) appointed a QPS Chief Resident to coordinate and support the residents’ QPS activities. We measured the impact of the curriculum by comparing RISE laboratory accreditation percentiles and QPS curriculum quiz scores before and after curriculum implementation. After its implementation, RISE percentiles increased by at least 25 for every PGY, and QPS quiz scores increased by at least 10% for 3 of 4 PGY. Every QPS project was presented at Grand Rounds, and 4 were presented externally, including 2 at national conferences. Our curriculum was successful in improving residents’ knowledge and competence in QPS. Challenges included designing appropriate learning activities, tracking completion of activities, coordinating faculty schedules and maintaining resident buy-in to the curriculum. We believe that the basic structure of our curriculum offers a solid foundation to which revisions can be made as QPS priorities evolve, and which can be readily adapted to other programs and locations.