Implementing a Radiology Residency Quality Curriculum to Develop Physician Leaders and Increase Value for Patients

Diagnostic and interventional radiology residency programs must educate trainees on quality and patient safety topics to meet board requirements and prepare residents to become effective physician leaders. A quality curriculum should encompass process improvement methodology as well as instruction about crucial patient safety subjects. The authors have developed a standardized and structured approach to fulfill this need using didactic and experiential learning. The educational format includes short lectures, peer-to-peer instruction, and self-study, with the value of presented information reinforced by physician leaders and process improvement specialists. Equally important is a structured experience in departmental quality improvement wherein trainees learn the collaborative nature of effective durable process change in areas of interest to them. This curriculum is implemented during the 3rd year of radiology residency to leverage residents' knowledge and experience with radiology workflows and proximity to the American Board of Radiology Core Exam. Feedback from educators and trainees as well as objective examination data support this approach. This article shares guidance and lessons learned from the authors' radiology residency educational efforts and offers a framework for successful implementation of a comprehensive quality curriculum at any residency training program. This curriculum serves the dual purpose of developing skilled future physician leaders and promoting value for patients. ^©RSNA, 2020.