title: Teaching systems-based practice to residents by using independent study projects.
abstract: The changing health care marketplace requires new graduates to be familiar with complex health systems. Since 1999 the Oregon Health & Science University internal medicine residency program has offered a seminar-based health systems curriculum, but residents lacked an opportunity to actively apply learned concepts. To achieve this goal, the authors developed a second curricular component, the Health Systems Independent Study Project (HSISP). The HSISP is a self-directed assessment of a health care system or delivery issue residents complete in their third year. The curriculum was implemented in 2001 with goals of gaining a focused understanding of a health systems concept and building related skills. Residents present their study projects to all curriculum participants. Topics addressed so far include adherence to coronary artery disease guidelines in a defined population, screening strategies for lung cancer, resident burnout, and many others. Residents have found that these projects enhance their systems knowledge, help them link systems-based-practice concepts to clinical practice, and foster opportunities for networking and early career development.
authors.affiliation: Section of General Internal Medicine, Portland VA Medical Center, P3-Med, P.O. Box 1034, Portland, OR 97207, USA. allenel@ohsu.edu
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Allen
authors.forename: Judy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zerzan
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Choo
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shenson
authors.forename: Somnath
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saha
mesh_terms: D003479:Curriculum; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D009922:Oregon; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*