Innovative health systems projects.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Healthcare Systems Improvement
• Academic Medicine

Background:

• Residency programs face challenges in implementing systems-based practice and improvement competencies.
• The Innovative Health Systems Projects (IHelP) initiative was developed to address the need for institutional-level systems-based initiatives.
• Academic medical centers require novel approaches to integrate systems-based practice into Graduate Medical Education (GME).

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement a novel approach for incorporating systems-based practice into GME programs.
• To track the impact of the IHelP initiative on healthcare delivery within an academic medical center.
• To foster scholarly activity and faculty mentorship through systems-based improvement projects.

Main Methods:

• The IHelP program was initiated as a volunteer effort in 2010 and subsequently integrated into all GME curricula.
• Residents, fellows, and faculty mentors collaborated to establish and implement the IHelP initiative.
• Projects spanned administrative improvements, departmental enhancements, and clinical care algorithms.

Main Results:

• 123 residents and fellows from 26 specialties participated in the IHelP program.
• 145 projects were reviewed, focusing on patient care (clinical care and quality), resident education, pharmacy, and departmental activities.
• Projects addressed diverse areas including administrative improvements, clinical care algorithms, and patient safety.

Conclusions:

• The IHelP program's first year demonstrated success in integrating systems-based improvement into GME.
• The initiative fostered scholarly activity, faculty mentorship, and improvements in patient care and safety.
• IHelP led to the development of numerous practical innovations within the academic medical center.