title: Health systems engineering fellowship: curriculum and program development.
abstract: Industrial engineering and related disciplines have been used widely in improvement efforts in many industries. These approaches have been less commonly attempted in health care. One factor limiting application is the limited workforce resulting from a lack of specific education and professional development in health systems engineering (HSE). The authors describe the development of an HSE fellowship within the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration (VA). This fellowship includes a novel curriculum based on specifically established competencies for HSE. A 1-year HSE curriculum was developed and delivered to fellows at several VA engineering resource centers over several years. On graduation, a majority of the fellows accepted positions in the health care field. Challenges faced in developing the fellowship are discussed. Advanced educational opportunities in applied HSE have the potential to develop the workforce capacity needed to improve the quality of health care.
authors.affiliation: New England Veterans Engineering Resource Center, White River Junction, VT VA National Center for Patient Safety, White River Junction, VT Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, White River Junction, VT Bradley.v.watts@dartmouth.edu.
authors.forename: Bradley V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Watts
authors.affiliation: New England Veterans Engineering Resource Center, White River Junction, VT Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, White River Junction, VT.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shiner
authors.affiliation: VA Office of Academic Affairs, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cully
authors.affiliation: VA Office of Academic Affairs, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Stuart C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Gilman
authors.affiliation: Northeastern University, Boston, MA.
authors.forename: James C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Benneyan
authors.affiliation: Veterans Engineering Resource Centers National Program Office, Portland, OR.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Eisenhauer
mesh_terms: D003479:Curriculum; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D005257:Fellowships and Scholarships; D006787:Hospitals, Veterans; D016730:Program Development; D058996:Quality Improvement; D014481:United States
keywords: educational models; engineering; models; quality improvement