Clinical Fellowship - Quality Improvement

All fellows will participate in quality improvement rounds, hospital and department based quality initiatives, national and international quality improvement conferences, and mentoring to produce scholarly publications.

All fellows will be required to complete IHI open school basic certification in quality improvement. 

Time Frame

The Fellowship Training Program will be undertaken over twelve (12) consecutive months and includes four (4) weeks of holiday time. The remaining forty eight (48) weeks will be comprised of clinical, subspeciality training and research (if approved in advance).

Eligibility Requirements for Canadian and Foreign Medical Graduates

• Candidates must possess a medical degree from a University recognized by the Medical Council of Canada (MCC)
• Candidates must have completed an anesthesia residency that is recognized by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO)
• International Medical Graduates do not need to write additional exams, but must be approved by the PGE Office at Western University
• English Language Requirement for IMGs: TOEFL-iBT required to achieve an overall score of no less than 93 with a minimum score of 24 in speaking; IELTS required to achieve a minimum score of 7 in each category. 
• All non-Canadian trained anesthesiologists will be required to pass an assessment period taking place over the first 4 - 8 weeks in order to continue with the fellowship (‘PEAP’ – Pre-entry assessment period).
• Please refer to the  Application and Requirements page for a more detailed description

Goals and Objectives

• Master quality measurement and data analysis, including research design and improvement tools (e.g. PDSA, process mapping, knowledge-to-action cycle)
• Develop competence in designing and conducting a QI project
• Disseminate knowledge and contribute to quality initiatives throughout the Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Medicine
• Understand and navigate the complex dynamics of hospital QI initiatives and QBP best practices
• Help to develop and contribute to the Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Medicine Quality Indicator Database
• Contribute to planning and execution of Departmental Quality Improvement Rounds
• All Fellows will be required to complete IHI open school basic certification in quality improvement or equivalent
• Design, implement, evaluate, and sustain quality improvement initiatives using established methodologies (e.g., Model for Improvement, PDSA cycles, Lean, and Six Sigma) to improve perioperative care.
• Identify gaps in clinical practice, analyze healthcare processes, and use data to develop evidence-based interventions that improve patient safety, quality of care, and healthcare value.
• Design and conduct high-quality clinical research, including developing research protocols, obtaining ethics approval, managing projects, analyzing data, and interpreting results.
• Critically appraise the medical literature and apply principles of evidence-based medicine, epidemiology, biostatistics, and implementation science to clinical practice.
• Conduct systematic reviews and meta-analyses using accepted methodological and reporting standards.
• Effectively communicate research and quality improvement findings through scientific presentations, manuscripts, grant applications, and stakeholder reports.
• Collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary teams, demonstrating leadership, project management, and change management skills to successfully implement practice improvements.
• Teach and mentor trainees and healthcare professionals in quality improvement principles, research methodology, and evidence-based perioperative practice.
• Demonstrate professionalism, ethical conduct, and accountability in all aspects of quality improvement, research, and clinical practice.
• Develop the skills necessary to lead quality improvement and research programs in academic or community anesthesia practice.

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Research and Education

Research Requirements

All fellows are required to be a principal investigator in at least two (2) quality improvement projects per year

Education Module

All fellows will be required to complete a series of Quality Improvement webinars approved by the department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Medicine (e.g. BMJ QI learning modules)

All fellows must develop one (1) QI/patient safety education session for residents/medical students within Department of Anesthesia and Perioperative Medicine

Clinical Time and Academic Time Ratio

All fellows will be expected to complete a minimum of 3 clinical days/week and two academic days

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