Leadership for Urban Primary Care Education and Transformation (LUCENT) (Descriptive Abstract)

Abstract

This HRSA-funded program is multidisciplinary, including the Departments of Medicine, Pediatrics, and Family Medicine. Resident and faculty scholars participate in biweekly symposia to develop knowledge and skills needed for primary care transformation and leadership. Residents receive enhanced ambulatory training to strengthen clinical skills specific to primary care. Finally, each scholar leads an innovation project to translate knowledge and skills into practice. During the first year (2015-2016) prior to scholar selection, 8 symposia were held attracting individuals from a variety of specialties (24% Internal Medicine; 19% Pediatrics, 6% Medicine-Pediatrics, 5% Family Medicine) and levels (35% attending physicians, 26% medical students, 17% residents, 2% fellows). Evaluations from the 115 attendees revealed that 93% felt the topics were useful for ambulatory practice transformation, 93% felt the information was useful for the development of urban primary care leadership skills, and 100% stated they were likely to attend a future symposium. A Steering Committee and Community Advisory Board were formed to support the program’s development and ongoing improvement. A curriculum was developed using Kern’s model with input from primary care physicians, care delivery leaders, and community partners. In July 2016, the first cohort of 12 scholars began the program, including 6 residents, 1 fellow and 5 faculty. Their projects focus on: chronic pain, mental health, palliative care, pediatric obesity, and social determinants of health. Short-term outcomes include scholars’ knowledge and skills of primary care transformation and leadership, patient care access and delivery, disease outcomes, and attitudes about the program and are assessed with surveys, direct observation, electronic medical record reports, and project presentations. Long-term outcomes for scholars include entry into primary care, implementation of transformative initiatives, and attainment of primary care leadership roles. In addition to fostering career development, the program builds a stronger institutional network for primary care delivery and transformation.