A Springboard for physicians returning to practice

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Physician Training
• Professional Development

Background:

• Physicians taking time out of training often experience decreased confidence and performance upon return.
• Limited evidence exists for structured courses supporting physicians returning to practice (RTP).

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a tailored, multi-modal course (Springboard) for physicians RTP.
• To assess improvements in confidence and preparedness for clinical and non-clinical roles.

Main Methods:

• A 2-day blended, multi-modal course (Springboard) was developed for physicians RTP.
• The course included lectures, workshops, case studies, panel discussions, peer advice, and simulation training.
• Participant feedback was collected via pre- and post-course questionnaires over eight iterations (2014-2019).

Main Results:

• Participants reported significant increases in self-assessed leadership skills and confidence in returning to practice.
• Doctors took time out for various reasons including parental leave, research, and career breaks, ranging from 3 months to 6 years.
• Attendees appreciated the multi-modal 'boot camp' format, expert faculty, and networking opportunities.

Conclusions:

• Dedicated, tailored training courses enhance physician confidence and preparedness for returning to practice.
• Such courses offer valuable networking and experience-sharing opportunities.
• Further research is recommended to explore the scalability of these RTP training initiatives.