title: Integrating a Resident-Driven Longitudinal Quality Improvement Curriculum Within an Ambulatory Block Schedule.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Quality improvement (QI) is essential in clinical practice, requiring effective teaching in residency. Barriers include lack of structure, mentorship, and time.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To develop a longitudinal QI curriculum for an internal medicine residency program with limited faculty resources and evaluate its effectiveness.
  
  
  METHODS
  All medicine residents were provided with dedicated research time every 8 weeks during their ambulatory blocks. Groups of 3 to 5 residents across all postgraduate year levels were formed. Two faculty members and 1 chief resident advised all groups, meeting with each group every 8 weeks, with concrete expectations for each meeting. Residents were required to complete didactic modules from the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. Current residents and alumni were surveyed for feedback.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over 3 years, all eligible residents (92 residents per year in 2012-2014, 102 in 2014-2015) participated in the curriculum. Residents worked on 54 quality assessment and 18 QI projects, with 6 QI projects showing statistically significant indicator improvements. About 50 mentoring hours per year were contributed by 2 faculty advisors and a chief resident. No other staff or IT support was needed. A total of 69 posters/abstracts were produced, with 13 projects presented at national or regional conferences. Survey respondents found the program useful; most (75% residents, 63% alumni) reported it changed their practice, and 71% of alumni found it useful after residency.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our longitudinal QI curriculum requires minimal faculty time and resulted in increased QI-related publications and measurable improvements in quality indicators. Alumni reported a positive effect on practice after graduation.
authors.forename: Aleksey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tentler
authors.forename: Mirela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feurdean
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kothari
mesh_terms: D003479:Curriculum; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007388:Internal Medicine; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009515:New Jersey; D058996:Quality Improvement; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires