Enhancing communication between providers and patients at the ICU by increasing meaningful touchpoints . Decreasing by 80 percent enteral tube dislodgements for medically complex pediatric patients. Boosting childhood immunization rates from 70 percent to 90 percent by re-engaging patients and educating providers and staff.
These are just a few results of capstone projects carried out by recent graduates of the UHF-GNYHA Clinical Quality Fellowship Program (CQFP). The 27 early- and mid-career health professionals that made up the 14th class of the CQFP graduated at UHF offices on June 6, completing 15 months of training to prepare them to become the New York area’s next health care change agents.
The fellowship program, sponsored jointly by UHF and the Greater New York Hospital Association (GNYHA), supports the training and professional development of early- and mid-career doctors, nurses, and physician assistants to help them lead and champion quality improvement and patient safety efforts within their health care organizations.
Welcoming the graduates on June 6 were Chad Shearer, UHF senior vice president for policy and program; Joan Guzik, director, quality and efficiency of UHF’s Quality Institute; Erin DuPree, MD, senior vice president and physician executive, quality and clinical initiatives, at GYNHA; and CQFP Chair Rohit Bhalla, MD, who is senior vice president of clinical affairs and quality and chief clinical and quality officer at Stamford Health.
“We hope the tools that you learned here will serve you well as you continue to make positive changes in your organizations and communities,” Mr. Shearer told the graduating fellows. “We also hope that as you progress in your careers you will draw not only upon the principles of quality improvement and leadership that you have learned, but also the relationships that you have developed with UHF and GNYHA, the other fellows, faculty, and your mentor.”
Dr. DuPree told the graduating class of fellows that their work had “raised the tide for everyone.” She added: “You are part of an elite group. Every one of you is a leader. You’ve inspired me.”
Noting that hundreds of projects have been catalyzed through the CQFP, Dr. Bhalla said the program has “become a tremendous, unique, one-of-a-kind endeavor—a web and network that is continuing to grow and wrap itself around regional health care.”
Since its launch in 2009, CQFP has trained more than 300 fellows, drawing from more than 50 hospitals and other health care facilities across the metropolitan area. Many have gone on to assume leadership positions in their home facilities, while alumni serve as mentors to new classes of Fellows.
The graduating 2023-2024 class of 27 fellows, chosen from more than 60 applicants, included 16 physicians, nine nurse professionals, and two physician assistants from 21 health care organizations.
The centerpiece of the fellowship is a capstone quality improvement project, created and implemented by each Fellow at their home organization. Three capstone projects were highlighted at the graduation ceremony:
- Jacklyn Hagedorn, MD – NYU Langone Medical Center
- “Improving Communication and Patient Experience in The Medical ICU At NYU Langone Medical Center”
- Lauren Lorenz, MSN, RN, CPN – Blythedale Children’s Hospital
- “Enhancing Enteral Tube Stability in Medically Complex Pediatric Patients” (Dislodgements can lead to malnutrition, dehydration, pain, site excoriation, and unplanned medical interventions)
- Hetal Tangal, MD – One Brooklyn Health
- “Increasing Childhood Immunization Rates”