Abstract
Background: Since 2008, HealthPartners has taught an ACGME-aligned QI curriculum to medical residents through presentations, videos, readings, QI projects, and Minnesota's first IHI chapter. Residents reported that they needed more mentors and coaches onsite, thus creating a need to train faculty. HealthPartners hopes to educate faculty on QI methods and tools, equipping them with the skills and abilities to educate and guide medical residents. Methods: In a series of 4 steps, interested faculty responded to invitations and completed a pretest assessment of their QI knowledge. Faculty then led or participated in a relevant, committee-approved QI project. Faculty also completed 6 IHI modules on their own time covering the fundamentals of, the model for, and measurement of improvement; putting it all together; the human aspect of QI; and level 100 tools. Finally, faculty took a posttest of QI knowledge and provided qualitative interviews. Results: Eight faculty members participated and generated 2 large-scale QI projects with positive outcomes: Dialysis Shared Decision Making and Emergency Medicine Department Communication. The pre- and posttest analysis shows an increase in all aspects of QI knowledge for the 2 faculty who completed the modules and no change in knowledge for the 6 faculty who did not complete the modules. The qualitative data revealed the IHI modules and training in general were useful, a coach in the GME office was helpful, having a project aligned with organization/department goals was ideal, and the limited availability of protected time was a large barrier. Because this was a voluntary program, participation was low and no funding was available. Conclusions: Those physicians who completed all the requirements felt grateful and more prepared than others (without training) to educate and mentor residents on QI projects. Participants reported that learning QI tools furthers work on QI projects. The initiative requires more leadership support, protected time for faculty, and integration into a program, such as a maintenance of certification program.