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Creating Excellence: Utilizing Team Ideas for Process Improvement

The team at the Kanbar Center for Simulation and Clinical Skills Education used “the answer is in the room” methodology to implement 'ideas to solutions' for supporting the CPX programs at the Clinical Skills Education facility.

"One is the new Ten"- forward focus solution for process improvement excellence by Jewel Smally.

Challenge: Ensuring the audio and video for each CPX session encounter is captured and recorded correctly, and in accordance with rotation of the CPX program schedule.

Problem: The Clinical Skills facility's audio and video capture and recording system is not compatible with the facility's layout of its encounter rooms.

The facility is physically configured with nine encounter rooms and numbered as 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 (room nine is not equipped for audio and video capture and is not used for the CPX program); the facility's Media Control room is fitted with an eight channel audio and video capture switch and is labeled 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8; the dissimilar numbering systems creates confusion and potential errors when encounter room 10 is used for audio and video capturing and recording.

Idea to solution: "Forward focus" on the problem inspired Jewel with the idea to associate and relabel the monitor switch to reflect "one as ten" for the encounter room switch programming methodology. To make this happen the monitor switch was reprogrammed to follow the physical layout of the encounter rooms as 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10. And the eight channel audio and video capture switch cabling was reconfigured to the new corresponding encounter rooms.

Outcomes: The early results are promising as the scheduling workflow is much easier for the CPX hallway monitors to communicate and direct the students and SPs room rotational assignments; the new methodology is easier to create the program's rotations for the student and SPs encounter room assignments; reduced audio and video programming errors due to an easier and more efficient rotational schedule, AV monitor switch labeling that accurately corresponds with the encounter room numbering system at the facility.

“Combining Visual and Auditory learning methods for improved memory recall” by Bernie Miller.

Challenge: Standardized patients (SPs), during a CPX, will encounter 8 medical students per half-day. After each of the 8 sessions the SP evaluates each student via a checklist.

Problem: Standardized patients, due to the pace and number of CPX encounter sessions held during a half day at times may blurr one of the later student encounters with a previous student from an earlier encounter.

Idea to Solution: Studies have shown better "remembered information" when it's represented and learned both visually and verbally. Combining visual and auditory learning methods was implemented by Bernie using a system of unique colors representing each of the eight CPX encounters (Encounter one is red, Encounter two is Black, Encounter three is White, etc.) to increase memory recall for the standardized patients when filling out the CPX evaluations after their encounter with each student ended.

For the visual learning recall portion, eight sheets of colored paper were individually numbered one through eight and all eight sheets of paper were placed in each of the eight encounter rooms.

For the auditory learning recall portion, the intercom session announcements were modified to include the session number and the assigned color for the session, e.g., "places everyone, this is encounter #1- Red". This in effect combined and reinforced the link of verbal and visual information to help the Standardized Patients make connections, understand relationships and recall related details after the end of the CPX session.

Outcomes: Feedback on the results indicate the combination of both learning styles for the SP has made it easier and more efficient when filling out the CPX outcomes tool and quality audits show more cohesive scoring and feedback comments on the evaluations.

Sustainability Lecture - Paperless Office

Staff Council continues the second in the Sustainability Series - Paperless Office. Featuring Heidi Schmidt, Director of OAAIS Customer Support Services. Panel of speakers from various departments at UCSF that have transitioned to the “paperless office” will be there to share their experiences as well as a Q&A session. Raffle prizes!!

When: Tuesday June 2nd; 12-1:30PM
Where: Cole Hall, Parnassus

More information

Green Tip of the Week: Use a reusable water bottle

Bottled water typically costs about 10,000 times the cost of tap/filtered water. So by using your own glass, mug, or steel water bottle instead of buying one individual, disposable plastic bottle every day, you could save $500 a year. Besides contributing 365 more bottles to our landfills where they take 1,000 years to decompose, you could also prevent some serious health risks. Chemicals that leach from the plastics have proven to cause birth defects, low sperm counts and an increase in testicular cancer. (Source http://www.ecomii.com/)

Green Tip: Alternative Transportation

UCSF encourages the use of alternative transportation, which reduces air pollution and our carbon footprint. There are many options for carpooling--from vanpools to the new Zimride service. You can save money too by enrolling for pre-tax transit incentives.

New Campus Calendar

Check out the new campus calendar at http://calendar.ucsf.edu/.

The calendar provides ways to view events by day, week, or month. Users can filter the events by audience, category, and location.

It is easy to create an account to add events or add the RSS feed of events to your favorite reader.

Chancellor-elect Susan Desmond-Hellman

The 10 minute talk (scroll to bottom of page) by the Chancellor-elect, Susan Desmond-Hellman, MD, MPH, focuses on three primary issues: why she came to UCSF, what we can expect from her, and diversity. In the video she talks about her views on mentoring, coaching, and management, she states:

And my other favorite saying is "Every employee deserves a great manager." Now you might say, "Okay, Sue, you have been in the business world; this management stuff is fine for a company. But we’re an academic institution.” I still think, though, that everybody deserves a good manager. Everybody needs to know what is expected of them, what their future looks like, how they can improve, what this all means for them personally.

And so I want you to know that the reason I am an administrator and the reason I am so looking forward to being chancellor here is that I define my success by the success of others. And so I will do my best to represent you, and to keep that passion for patients and that commitment to every individual.

Amy Day Announced as New Director of GME

Dear all:

After a national search, I am most pleased to announce that Amy Day has been selected as Director of the Office of Graduate Medical Education (OGME). Amy will begin her new position on June 1, 2009.

Amy joined GME in 2005 after four years as the Residency and Fellowship Coordinator in the Department of Dermatology. In the last three and a half years Amy's position has grown from Senior Analyst for Appointments and Licensure into Manager of Resident and Fellow Affairs. She has been a key member of the GME team by managing the yearly housestaff appointment and credentialing process; representing resident and clinical fellow interests to various committees and departments in the UCSF community as well as to the California Medical Board and other external organizations; serving as an integral member of the E*Value implementation team; and working closely with the Resident and Fellow Affairs Committee to revise policy and promote housestaff well-being at UCSF.

Amy will be graduating in December from San Francisco State University with an MBA with an emphasis in Sustainable Business. She received her Bachelor of Arts in English and Political Science from Washington State University.

Please join me in welcoming Amy to this new position.

Bobby Baron MD
Associate Dean, GME and CME

UCSF Transportation Services Announces Zimride

UCSF Transportation Services is pleased to announce the launch of our new Zimride system, a new, fun and easy way to find rides where you need to go and coordinate your daily commute. Zimride makes it easy to share the seats in your car or catch a ride with fellow UCSF faculty, students and staff.

http://www.zimride.com/ucsf

It's simple. Have a car? Split the costs by driving fellow UCSF community members. Don't have a car? Find a ride where you need to go. You save money and protect the environment when you share a ride to work! With Zimride you can also check out the profiles of your UCSF colleagues before you share the ride.

Add your ride by May 31, 2009 to be eligible to win a pair of Coldplay concert tickets or one of 25 UCSF t-shirts.

http://www.zimride.com/ucsf

Sixth Annual Pathways to Discovery/Areas of Concentration Symposium

Learners, mentors, and visitors met for the Sixth Annual Pathways to Discovery/Areas of Concentration Symposium on Thursday afternoon to enjoy over 70 projects including those by residents from four programs related to Pathways.

The Pathways to Discovery program, currently with 245 learners, develops providers with a lifelong commitment to leadership and innovation in health research, systems, policy, and education. Because of the complexity of challenges threatening national and global health, Pathways facilitates collaboration among providers in different disciplines and schools, and at different levels of training. The Pathways projects and mentor relationships featured in Thursday's symposium create the expertise and community necessary to create change.

Each year, directors in each of the individual Pathways and AoC tracks select one outstanding learner to give an oral presentation. This year's awardees are:

• Clinical and Translational Science - Teresa Sparks
• Global Health - Sarah Averback
• Health and Society - Cara Torruellas
• Health Professions Education - Darcy Wooten
• Medical Humanities - Emma Samelson-Jones
• Molecular Medicine - Cynthia Jimenez
• This year's Pathways Mentor Award went to Rita Redberg, MD, Cardiology.

Posters, abstracts, presentations, and photos will be available this Wednesday on the Pathways Symposium CLE site (login with your galen ID). If you have trouble, please let Renee Courey know if you'd like to have access to Pathways sites.

Class of 2009 Graduation this Thursday, May 14th

The Class of 2009 will be graduating this Thursday, May 14th. The ceremony will be held at the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall from 11am-1pm. The students have selected Dr. Andy Josephson as the commencement speaker and David Stahl as the student speaker.

There will be a reception following the ceremony at the hall from 1-2pm. All are welcome to attend as a guest, no ticket is required.

Map to Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall

Stretch Break Reminder Software Offered by UCSF

Take a break and stretch your legs and your eyes.

All computer users should remember that the body is made for movement. Frequent stretches during the work day will improve your comfort and your productivity. RSI Guard is now available to all UCSF Campus employees. This stretch break reminder software can be downloaded to your computer to remind you to stretch, breath or close your eyes for a moment. The frequency and duration of the breaks and micro-breaks are customized automatically to your needs according to your intensity of keyboarding and mousing.

To download RSI Guard click here. If you do not have sufficient administrative privileges to download new software on your computer, please contact your IT support group for assistance.

If you have any questions about this software or the ergonomics program, please contact Nathalie Delsaer, MSHFE, CHT, OTR/L, the UCSF campus ergonomist.

Pathways to Discovery

The Medical Education Staff Meeting this quarter focused on the Pathways to Discovery Program. Carrie Chen, the Director of the Health Professions Education Pathway, joined the meeting to provide an overview of the Pathways to Discovery Program and answer questions. Also joining us was Christine Bottrell, a third year medical student who participated in the Health Professions Education pathway.

The second half of the meeting was spent in small groups as Medical Education staff worked together to help brainstorm ideas on the best ways to support the Pathways to Discovery Program. We are in the process of compiling the notes for the session to send out soon.

Below is the Pathways to Discovery Program Overview:

Class of 2009 Convocation

Members of the Class of 2009, noise makers in hand, gathered in Cole Hall on May 6 for this year’s Convocation. This festive student-planned event included a presentation of the Kaiser Awards and teaching awards for clinical faculty and housestaff. More informally, students celebrated the accomplishments of one other through a slideshow of medical student children and student-to-student “most likely to…” awards. Each student award-winner received a yellow rubber ducky dressed in medical garb to mark the occasion.

Kaiser Awards for Excellence in Teaching
In the Classroom Setting
Peter V. Chin-Hong, MD, MAS
Associate Professor, Medicine

In the Ambulatory Care Setting
Aaron B. Caughey, MD, MPP, MPH, PhD
Associate Professor, Obstetrics & Gynecology

In the Inpatient Care Setting
Vanja Douglas, MD
Clinical Instructor, Neurology (UCSF Class of 2004)

Volunteer Clinical Faculty
Norman R. Cohen, MD
Clinical Professor, Medicine

UCSF-Fresno Medical Education Program
Robert Tevendale, MD
Assistant Clinical Professor, Medicine

Excellence in Teaching: Clinical Faculty
Gurpreet S. Dhaliwal, MD
Assistant Clinical Professor, Medicine

David Elkin, MD
Clinical Professor, Psychiatry

Mindy Goldman, MD
Clinical Professor, Obstetrics & Gynecology

S. Andrew Josephson, MD
Assistant Clinical Professor, Neurology

Rachael Lucatorto, MD
Assistant Clinical Professor, Medicine

Teaching Excellence Award for Cherished Housestaff (T.E.A.C.H)
Prasanna Jagannathan, MD
Medicine

Hemal Kanzaria, MD
Emergency Medicine (UCSF Class of 2008)

Read Pierce, MD
Medicine (UCSF Class of 2006)

Eliezer Van Allen, MD
Medicine

Sarah Wilson, MD
Obstetrics & Gynecology (UCSF Class of 2006)

Osler Distinguished Teacher Award
David Elkin, MD
Clinical Professor, Psychiatry

Pathways to Discovery Project Mentor Award
Rita F. Redberg, MD
Professor, Medicine

Green Tip of the Week: Turn Out the Lights

Artificial lighting accounts for 44% of the electricity use in office buildings. Turn off the lights when you're leaving any room for 15 minutes or more, and utilize natural light when you can. If you use a personal lamp, installing Energy Star-rated light bulbs uses at least 2/3 less energy than regular lighting. (Source: Sierra Club)

2009 WGEA/WGSA/WMAS/WAAHP Student Poster Award Winners

Evaluation of “Neighborhood Walking Tour” Curriculum to Support future Physicians of Underserved Populations
Jolene Collins, Elisabeth Wilson
University of California - San Francisco School of Medicine

Tracking the Iterative Path of Inquiry in a Problem Based Learning Curriculum
Darcy Wooten, MS, Amin Assam, MD, MA; Kevin Mack, MD, MS
UC Berkley – UCSF Joint Medical Program

Kirk Hudson Awarded the Chancellor's Award for Exceptional University Service

Kirk Hudson, the Manager of the Interactive Learning Center and Research Software Licensing in the Library and Center for Knowledge Management, was awarded the Chancellor's Award for Exceptional University Service today at the Founders Day Luncheon.

The Chancellor's Award for Exceptional University Service was created in 1978 by Chancellor Francis A. Sooy to annually recognize staff employees in non-supervisory capacities who have consistently performed in their University positions at the level beyond what is ordinarily expected. All recipients share a commitment to excellence and a sense of dedication to their jobs, the campus, and the community.

Please join us in congratulating Kirk.

Dan Lowenstein Awarded Chancellor's Award for Public Service

Dan Lowenstein, MD was awarded the Faculty Chancellor's Award for Public Service today at the Founders Day Awards Luncheon.

The Chancellor's Award for Public Service, established by Chancellor Philip R. Lee in 1970, annually honors members of the campus community who have performed outstanding service to the community at large, above and beyond that required by their University positions. The award grew out of the recognition that students, faculty, and staff, in addition to contributing through their daily activities, also make important contributions to the welfare of the community through public service activities.

Please join us in congratulating Dan.