Sustained Impact of a Pediatric Resident-Led Patient Safety Council

The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of a resident-led patient safety council. This study measured change in resident perceptions and knowledge of safety issues for 3 years, as well as behavioral choices to participate in patient safety activities during and after residency.

Pediatric residents formed a resident-led safety council to engage their peers in patient safety activities. Surveys were distributed annually from 2013 to 2015 to measure residents' perception and knowledge surrounding patient safety. The number of patient safety reports submitted by residents was tracked for the same period. In addition, recent graduates were surveyed to assess the influence of the council on postresidency involvement in patient safety.

Resident perception of the institutional culture of safety improved and knowledge of basic patient safety concepts increased. The number of resident-submitted safety reports increased from 6.2 to 15.2 reports per month in the 2013 and 2015 academic years, respectively. Surveys of recent graduates suggest that involvement with the safety council during residency fostered future engagement in patient safety.

This resident-led council models successful involvement of trainees in system-based patient safety. Such involvement can help shape the safety culture within a training program and encourages continued participation in patient safety after residency completion.