Staying connected: Service-specific orientation can be successfully achieved using a mobile application for...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education Technology
• Healthcare Communication Systems

Background:

• Frequent resident rotations present challenges in disseminating service-specific information and guidelines.
• Effective communication and provider experience are crucial during rotation transitions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of a mobile application on resident onboarding and communication within a trauma service.
• To assess the usability and utility of a mobile platform for enhancing provider experiences during rotation changes.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of a mobile platform providing access to policies, guidelines, events, and a provider directory.
• A mixed-methods study involving an anonymous online survey and analysis of usage statistics over 3 months.
• Survey assessed resident and medical student impressions, utility, and ease of use of the mobile application.

Main Results:

• The mobile app was highly rated for ease of use (90%) and accessed an average of 7 times daily.
• Key features utilized included the provider directory (50%), divisional calendar (13.3%), and on-call schedules (10%).
• Over half of respondents found the app helpful for daily tasks (53.3%), eased transition to the trauma service (50%), and increased connection to the division (56.7%).

Conclusions:

• Integrating a service-specific mobile application significantly improved the learner experience during service transitions.
• The mobile platform served as a valuable instrument for resident onboarding, enhancing communication and integration.
• Mobile technology is increasingly fundamental in medical education and training.