The Wayne State University School of Medicine's Office of Graduate Medical Education and hospital partner Crittenton Hospital Medical Center in Rochester, Mich., were selected to participate in a national health initiative sponsored by the Chicago-based Alliance of Independent Academic Medical Centers.
In "National Initiative V: Improving Community Health and Health Equity through Medical Education," resident physicians will lead multidisciplinary teams in quality improvement projects aligned to their institution's strategic goals.
The WSU-sponsored residency programs of Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Transitional Year and Otolaryngology, championed by the WSU GME office, were selected based on a demonstrated commitment to better understanding and reducing health disparities in the community. When reviewing the application, the selection committee noted that WSU, partnering with Crittenton, has strong previous national initiative involvement and has identified the gap in GME understanding how disparities impact patient care and how they contribute.
Associate Dean of Graduate Medical Education Tsveti Markova, M.D., F.A.A.F.P., will lead the WSU-Crittenton team. She was honored in 2013 with the AIAMC Innovation Award for model educational practices on quality improvement and safety, leading to improved patient outcomes.
"The time is right for forward-thinking academic medical centers to proactively address community health needs while at the same time reforming residency training by involving trainees directly in community-based initiatives designed to improve health and reduce disparities," said Dr. Markova, who also chairs the Department of Family Medicine and Public Health Sciences.
A leadership team will collaborate with select teaching institutions from across the United States to engage community partnerships that aim to provide better care for at-risk populations. Participants will attend four on-site learning sessions and monthly networking teleconferences and educational webinars during the initiative's 18 months.
"Health disparities in the United States are well documented, and academic medical centers play a critical dual role in addressing this national problem because they train medical residents and fellows, the future physician workforce, and because many academic medical centers are key safety net providers," said Kimberly Pierce-Boggs, AIAMC executive director.
Fifty-five hospitals and health systems and more than 450 individuals have participated in AIAMC National Initiatives since 2007. The initiatives have driven change that resulted in meaningful and sustainable outcomes that improved the quality and safety of patient care. The School of Medicine and Crittenton are among 29 AIAMC-member hospitals and health systems selected to participate.