The institutional requirements were aligned to follow the six CLER focus areas. Over the next few months, we will take a look at each of the six learning and working environment requirements and provide some questions for you to think about in order to gauge how well you meet the requirement. This week we will take a look at quality improvement.

III.B. The Sponsoring Institution is responsible for the oversight and documentation of resident/fellow engagement in:

III.B.2. Quality Improvement: the Sponsoring Institution must ensure that residents/fellows have:

III.B.2.a) access to data to improve systems of care, reduce health care disparities, and improve patient outcomes; and

Questions to ask yourself:

• Do your residents receive data routinely on their practice habits?
• Have you shared the institutional health disparity goals with your resident programs?
• Are your residents educated on identifying and reducing health disparities specific to your patient population?
• Do residents receive cultural diversity training?
• How do your programs involve residents to improve patient outcomes?
• How involved is your GMEC with the hospital quality department?

III.B.2.b) Opportunities to participate in quality improvement initiatives.

Questions to ask yourself:

• What are the opportunities that are available for residents to participate in quality improvement?
• Do residents participate in these opportunities?
• Are you tracking resident participation in QI initiatives?
• Are residents educated on QI methods?

Stay tuned for the next installment where we will look at transitions in care.