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Appl Clin Inform 2021; 12(05): 1150-1156
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1740258
Case Report

Engaging Housestaff as Informatics Collaborators: Educational and Operational Opportunities

Jared A. Shenson‡   *
1   Department of Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States
,
Ivana Jankovic‡   *
2   Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States
,
Hyo Jung Hong‡   **
3   Department of Anesthesiology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States
,
Benjamin Weia‡   **
2   Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States
,
Lee White‡   **
4   Department of Urology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States
,
Jonathan H. Chen
2   Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States
,
Matthew Eisenberg
5   Stanford Health Care, Stanford, California, United States
› Author Affiliations Funding No funding sources were utilized for this work.
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Abstract

Background In academic hospitals, housestaff (interns, residents, and fellows) are a core user group of clinical information technology (IT) systems, yet are often relegated to being recipients of change, rather than active partners in system improvement. These information systems are an integral part of health care delivery and formal efforts to involve and educate housestaff are nascent.

Objective This article develops a sustainable forum for effective engagement of housestaff in hospital informatics initiatives and creates opportunities for professional development.

Methods A housestaff-led IT council was created within an academic medical center and integrated with informatics and graduate medical education leadership. The Council was designed to provide a venue for hands-on clinical informatics educational experiences to housestaff across all specialties.

Results In the first year, five housestaff co-chairs and 50 members were recruited. More than 15 projects were completed with substantial improvements made to clinical systems impacting more than 1,300 housestaff and with touchpoints to nearly 3,000 staff members. Council leadership was integrally involved in hospital governance committees and became the go-to source for housestaff input on informatics efforts. Positive experiences informed members' career development toward informatics roles. Key lessons learned in building for success are discussed.

Conclusion The council model has effectively engaged housestaff as learners, local champions, and key informatics collaborators, with positive impact for the participating members and the institution. Requiring few resources for implementation, the model should be replicable at other institutions.

Keywords

stakeholder engagement - graduate medical education - quality improvement - program evaluation

Protection of Human and Animal Subjects

The Stanford University Institutional Review Board granted exempt status to this work under the grounds of quality improvement.


* These authors contributed equally to this work as first authors.


** These authors contributed equally to this work.




Publication History

Received: 24 August 2021

Accepted: 20 October 2021

Article published online:
08 December 2021

© 2021. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag KG
Rüdigerstraße 14, 70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

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