Academic Half Day Improves Resident Perception of Education Without Compromising Patient Safety

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Patient Safety
• Healthcare Workflow Management

Background:

• Residency programs require structured didactic curricula and protected time for education.
• An academic half day (AHD) was implemented to address limitations of traditional noon conferences.
• This initiative aimed to enhance the educational experience for residents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of implementing an academic half day (AHD) on resident education.
• To assess changes in patient safety metrics following AHD implementation.
• To determine the effect of AHD on clinical workflow efficiency.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, single-site educational intervention study design was employed.
• Pre- and post-implementation surveys (including ACGME surveys) gathered data on trainee and faculty perceptions.
• Patient safety and workflow were analyzed by comparing safety event reports, RRT activations, and ED admission/discharge times on AHD vs. other weekdays.

Main Results:

• AHD implementation correlated with significant positive changes in resident attitudes and experiences, and ACGME survey results.
• No significant differences were observed in safety event report rates or rapid response team activations on AHDs.
• Median ED admission times and discharge times showed no clinically meaningful differences between AHD and non-AHD weekdays.

Conclusions:

• Academic half days (AHD) can be effectively implemented without negatively impacting patient safety or workflow.
• Resident preference for AHDs is strongly supported, aligning with previous findings.
• AHDs offer a viable framework for enhancing resident education while maintaining quality patient care.