Reports from University of California Describe Recent Advances in Medical Devices and Surgical Technology. - Medical Devices & Surgical Technology Week

According to the authors of a study from Los Angeles, California, 'In recent years, patient satisfaction has been integrated into residency training practices through core competency requirements as set forth by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). In 2006, the UCLA Health Systems established a program designed to obtain patient feedback and assess the communication abilities of resident physicians with a standard tool through the Assessing Residents' C-I-CARE (ARC) Program.'

'This Program utilized a 17-item questionnaire, completed via a facilitator-administered interview, which employed polar, Likert and comment scale questions to assess physician trainees' interpersonal and communication skills. From 2006 to 2010, the ARC Program provided patient feedback data to more than six clinical departments while collecting 5,634 surveys for 323 trainees. Scores for resident recognition and performance increased from the first to second year of activity by an average of 22.5%, while attending recognition scores decreased 19% over the four years. Additionally, residents and attendings in surgical specialties received higher recognition rates than those in non-surgical specialties. The ARC Program provided a standard tool for attaining patient feedback through a facilitator-administered survey that assisted in the accreditation process of training programs,' wrote T. Wen and colleagues, University of California (see also Medical Devices and Surgical Technology).

The researchers concluded: 'Furthermore, hospitals, health organizations and medical schools may find the ARC Program valuable in collecting information for quality control as well as providing an opportunity for students to become involved in the healthcare field.'

Wen and colleagues published their study in BMJ Quality & Safety (Promoting patient-centred care through trainee feedback: Assessing Residents' C-I-CARE (ARC) Program. BMJ Quality & Safety, 2012;21(3):225-233).

For more information, contact T. Wen, University of California, Ronald Reagan UCLA Med Center, Dept. of Neurosurg, Los Angeles, CA 90095, United States.

Publisher contact information for the journal BMJ Quality & Safety is: B M J Publishing Group, British Med Assoc House, Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9JR, England.

Keywords: City:Los Angeles, State:California, Country:United States, Region:North and Central America, Medical Devices and Surgical Technology

This article was prepared by Medical Devices & Surgical Technology Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2012, Medical Devices & Surgical Technology Week via NewsRx.com.