Resident feedback about all aspects of the program is regularly sought and highly valued. Whenever new initiatives are started or new policies are considered, feedback from house staff is obtained and is incorporated. Resident input has led to major Departmental changes.
In the Spring of 2007, residents gave feedback about the inpatient volume to the program leadership. This led directly to the hospital's developing of a multi million dollar, full floor, 27 bed non teaching service, to help offload the house staff. We demonstrated a clear reduction in house staff fatigue and stress levels after this floor was opened. A responsive administration is essential to fostering a positive learning environment.
In the Spring of 2009, a new resident report format was started on Thursday mornings. After a run in period, house staff feedback was obtained via an anonymous online survey. Significant revisions to the format were made based on that feedback, and the current format enjoys very high approval by the house staff for its educational value. You can view the results of anonymous house staff polling on our current Thurday morning resident report by clicking here.
Another great example of how house staff feedback is crucial in providing the best training atmosphere is the operational side of this website (only accessible to those in the program). This website serves as an information dissemination and reference platform for house staff on a day to day basis. When designing the site, we simply asked house staff what information they wanted on-demand access to, and followed their great ideas. For example, house staff wanted a consultation directory posted online, wanted an easy way to access the sensitivities of culture isolated bacteria at our hospital to guide thier selection of antibiotics, and wanted the guidelines for anticoagulation posted online for easy reference. All are now parts of the website, along with many other things to make work more efficient (electrolyte repletion guides, etc.)
In addition, we have an anonymous "online suggestion box" web survey, through which house staff can express views or concerns. This survey is regularly checked and new submissions are discussed by the chief residents and the program directors at their weekly Cabinet meeting.
Working Groups
House staff have opportunity to give direct input into the design of the training program and to express concerns through various working groups. Each working group is lead by a chief resident and a program director and meets regularly.
The Information Services Working Group meets regularly with the hospital Information Services leadership to brainstorm new ideas and processes.
The Duty Hours Working Group advises the Program and Departmental leadership on ways to streamline and improve the structure of the inpatient ward teams and ICU experiences in order to maximize efficiency, resident satisfaction and complaince with duty hours and patient caps.
The Recruitment Working Group is tasked with helping to design the residency recruitment efforts, and much of what applicants experience on their interview day was designed based on suggestions of our house staff (include this website!)
