Health Systems Science Curriculum in GME at University Hospitals is a National Leader

Focus is on leadership, stewardship, population health

UH Research & Education Update | April 2020

The UH Graduate Medical Education health systems science curriculum, the first of its kind in the nation, develops competencies that are needed for clinical transformation. The curriculum includes experiential learning to build faculty and trainee competencies in leadership, stewardship and population health. All Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) accredited schools now provide foundational education in health systems science, and we build on that to continuously improve our clinical learning environment.

The UH health systems science curriculum includes leadership training for all residents, fellows and program directors. Residents and fellows write reflective essays to foster self-improvement in patient- centered care and systems thinking. Faculty participation in the health systems science curriculum creates opportunities to role model and share lifelong learning with trainees. All training programs have a patient attend a teaching session to hear about their health journey (and the patient’s perspective on value of the healthcare encounters during that journey).

The impact of the UH GME health systems science curriculum is tracked annually by asking house staff and faculty at UH Cleveland Medical Center to complete an internal survey. Compared to baseline results prior to implementation of the curriculum, 10 percent more trainees report being asked to reflect upon or being assessed on issues of value (stewardship competency) in healthcare.  Last year, 133 trainees (64 percent of respondents) endorsed having looked for healthcare disparities in quality improvement, research or clinical data sets (population health competency). Faculty are also asked if they are assessed or asked to reflect on the issues of value, transitions of care, conflict management and health disparities data analysis, with a steady increase in those endorsing this over the past three years. 
All trainees are introduced to the health systems science curriculum at GME orientation, and the first population health activity occurs during orientation, the “See the City You Serve” tour to learn about the history and cultural resources, as well as obstacles to health, in the Fairfax, Hough and East Cleveland neighborhoods.

More information on the UH health systems science curriculum can be found on the UH intranet Digital Workplace. Please note, you must be logged onto a UH Network computer or VPN for access.