Scholary Activity

RESEARCH AND QUALITY IMPROVEMENT

Our department shines in research and Quality Improvement (QI) opportunities for residents!

To allow for maximum focus and time commitment to the ABA BASIC Examination at the conclusion of the CA-1 year, residents are not expected to pursue academic or QI projects until the CA-2 year.

RESEARCH:

All residents complete individual academic projects with a research mentor in a structured setting guided by a team of dedicated faculty during the CA-2 and CA-3 years as indicated in the sample curriculum above. Residents utilize this experience to enhance their applications for fellowship and competitive job markets. Numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals and presentations at national and regional conferences testify to the success of our department’s research mission.

Residents with robust research ideas may apply to take time away from clinical duties in effort to complete their projects. Recent exemplary projects include a study of the oxygen reserve index (Tsymbal E, et al. Study of early warning for desaturation provided by Oxygen Reserve Index in obese patients. J Clin Monit Comput. 2020.) This resident-led research project demonstrates the potential to improve early detection of oxygen desaturation in obese patients.

QUALITY IMPROVEMENT:

Residents identify large-scale, high-impact QI projects during the CA-2 year as indicated in the sample curriculum above. Working in groups, residents analyze current practices, implement systems-based changes, collect data, and analyze the impact of their interventions on patient outcomes and the healthcare system. This structured curriculum is supplemented with monthly QIPS (Quality Improvement and Patient Safety) conferences, quarterly faculty lectures during the CA-2 year, and annual IHI (Institute for Healthcare Improvement) modules.

Recent noteworthy QI efforts include a study of perioperative transfusion practices in non-emergent cases. After the residents implemented changes, the health system noted measurable improvements in the rate of post-transfusion hemoglobin checks; compliance with pre-incision discussions of anticipated blood loss and target hemoglobin values; as well as reduced intraoperative blood transfusions. The residents’ impressive work continues to improve patient outcomes today!