WIP 50 - Multi-Institutional and Multi-Disciplinary Collaboration for an Exceptional Neonatal Intensive Care Education (NICE) Quality Improvement Initiative

Poster Number: WIP 50
Publication Number: WIP 50.2481

Background: Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine (NPM) practices nation-wide are performing fewer procedures, caring for more complex patient population, and shifting towards regionalization of specialized care, which threaten fellowship education quality and readiness of future neonatologists. At USC Los Angeles General Medical Center, fellows express a rising concern for diminishing clinical exposure prompting the need to examine the fellowship core curriculum more closely.

Objective: Our aims are to 1) conduct a needs assessment to identify shortcomings in our NPM fellowship program, 2) establish topic-based Neonatal Intensive Care Education (NICE) subcommittees with multidisciplinary faculty across institutions to restructure the fellowship core curriculum, and 3) apply quality improvement methodology to build on educational quality and ensure its sustainability.

Design/Methods: We conducted a needs assessment survey of NPM fellows in May 2023 via REDCap. 89% (16/18) fellows completed the needs assessment survey.

In July 2023, we implemented the new core curriculum informed by the survey findings and NICE subcommittees input. We assessed education quality monthly via fellow survey for changes in attitude using 9-question 5-point Likert scale questionnaire, pre-/post- organ system block knowledge assessment, and quarterly Copenhagen Burnout Inventory (CBI). All surveys were anonymous, and gift cards were provided for survey completion. Data analysis used Microsoft Excel. This project was funded by an intramural quality improvement grant and approved by our IRB.

We now have results for the initial four months of the curriculum implementation. Fellows’ ratings of education quality improved from a baseline of 3.15 to 4.28. Clinical application received the highest rating and curriculum organization improved the most from baseline. 83% (15/18) fellows completed the CBI survey.

By April 2024, we will have 10 months of data covering 12 different content areas.