In the Nick of Time: Same-Day Simulation-Paired Procedure Clinic for Internal Medicine Residents

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Internal Medicine Training
• Simulation-Based Learning

Background:

• Internal medicine residents have limited opportunities for ambulatory procedures due to service reliance and competing demands.
• Simulation-based training improves skills short-term but requires timely application and feedback for clinical proficiency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the feasibility and educational impact of a same-day simulation-paired procedure clinic (SPPC).
• To evaluate the effect of SPPC on procedural volume, cognitive load, and resident experience.

Main Methods:

• Internal medicine residents (PGY-1) completed weekly simulations followed by same-day procedure clinics.
• Procedural volume changes, cognitive load surveys, and qualitative interviews were analyzed.
• The curriculum was implemented using existing resources at no additional cost.

Main Results:

• A 96% increase in average annual procedural volume was observed post-SPPC implementation.
• Residents reported higher germane load (learning-focused effort) than extraneous load (irrelevant effort).
• Qualitative analysis revealed systematic skill development and improved focus for learning.

Conclusions:

• A same-day SPPC is feasible within existing clinical infrastructure.
• The SPPC model increases procedural opportunities and enhances resident-reported learning-focused cognitive engagement.