Rationale for the Levine Children's Hospital Pediatrics Residency Quality Improvement Program

There is an increasing expectation for pediatricians to demonstrate excellent health outcomes for children. These requirements derive from many sources. For residents, these requirements come from the ACGME and include competencies of Practice-Based Learning and Improvement and Systems-Based Practice. Residents are dedicated and passionate about providing the best possible care for their patients. Unfortunately, the Quality Improvement (QI) methods needed to provide that care have not been broadly taught during pediatric training therefore few residents have had experience practicing those methods.

The purpose of QI is to identify, assess, prioritize, and enhance effectiveness in improving care and optimizing outcomes for children. Through this resident QI program, you will receive QI training and actively participate in QI initiatives. You will work with a team to conduct actual QI projects which you will choose, design, and implement in the inpatient and outpatient areas to achieve a continuum of high quality care.

Throughout this program, three resources will be consistently referenced:

• LCHCAPE.ORG-Website for obtaining QI information, curriculum requirements and readings
• "Medical Quality Management: Theory and Practice" edited by: Prathibha Varkey, MD, 2010
• IHI Website (Institute for Healthcare Improvement)

You will also have access to the entire CAPE staff (QI Manager, Coach, Program Coordinator and Data Coordinator) as well as your QI faculty mentor for guidance.

Goals of the Pediatrics Residency QI Program

This QI program will provide you with a well-researched and tested curriculum to enhance your ability to recognize, understand and facilitate QI in healthcare. It will also provide a transferable knowledge base to be utilized after finishing residency training. Specific goals have been established for each year of training:

First year:  Click here to see 1st year curriculum

• Exposure to: QI terminology, methodology and data through didactic lectures, web based modules and required readings.
• Conduct: one short, personal and one outpatient rotation QI project (can be done in clinic or ED).
• Learn from ongoing QI project presentations at departmental and QI Quarterly meetings.
• Incorporate QI into daily work and utilize QI Coach for guidance.

• Continue QI methodology learning through didactic lectures, web-based modules and required readings.
• Identify and utilize a QI faculty mentor as a resource.
• Participate as an active team member on a current QI project or initiate your own project.
• Learn from ongoing QI project presentations at QI Quarterly meetings and departmental meetings.
• Learn about sustainability of projects and/or participate in a hand-off of a project.

 Third Year: Click here to see 3rd year curriculum

• Continue QI methodology learning through didactic lectures, web based modules and required readings.
• Participate as a physician champion, with faculty mentor and QI Coach supervision, on your existing QI project or identify a new QI project to champion.
• Present your QI project at a QI Quarterly meeting.
• Hand-off project and discuss sustainability

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