Abstract 4135265: When the Beat Drops: A Pilot Project for a Case-Based Resident’s Guide to Cardiovascular Care

Abstract

Residents care for patients with a vast array of cardiovascular (CV) diagnoses in settings ranging from primary care clinic to the cardiac intensive care unit. However, the resources available are mainly intended for advanced cardiology trainees. We created a resident-driven, case-based reference for residents to serve as a companion to traditional CV medicine educational resources. Methods: We surveyed residents, fellows, and cardiology attendings to identify topics within CV care for which residents are responsible. We recruited residents from multiple ACGME-accredited Internal Medicine residency programs to write a chapter on each identified topic that would be published on a central website. The chapters included a topic overview with key learning points, a case presentation, review questions, attending pearls, and high-yield articles for further reading. Chapters were reviewed for accuracy and completeness by cardiology fellows, pharmacologists, and attendings. The chapters were sent out to residents weekly via email and through social media platforms. Website analytics were used to track usage and monitor engagement. Each chapter concluded with a brief survey regarding learning gains, comprehension, and if the reader would recommend the resources to others. Results: A total of 52 cases were submitted by resident contributors from four residency programs. Topics included management of arrhythmias, structural heart disease, ischemia, cardiogenic shock, and post-procedure complications. Within the first two months of publication, the website was being accessed throughout 30+ states and 6 countries with more than 2,500 views and 1,500 unique visitors. Topics with high traffic included chapters regarding arrhythmias and post-procedural complications. The website was viewed throughout the entire day with no specific time pattern; however, there were significantly more views on days when each chapter was released via email and social media. Preliminary survey results show that residents and other trainees find this resource useful, and many want to get involved and help create more content. Conclusion: Our resident-created and cardiologist reviewed website is a unique resource created for residents caring for patients with CV disease. Using email and social media marketing has allowed this resource to be widely accessible to a large global audience. Survey feedback suggests the importance of this resource and need for continued CV resources for trainees.