To the YSM Community:
In prior editions of Beyond Sterling Hall, I discussed several cross-cutting themes in the Yale School of Medicine (YSM) Strategic Plan, specifically the goal of enhancing communication and the aspiration to lead in the science and implementation of artificial intelligence (AI). Another goal within the strategic plan reads, “Better engage and empower clinical leaders and faculty in the aligned academic health system.” Over the last five years, leaders in the school and Yale New Haven Health System (YNHHS) have been working to define the roles of chairs as chiefs across the health system. Recent work has included formalizing the input of chairs in the selection process for delivery network hospital chiefs and mapping the reporting relationship of hospital chiefs to the cognizant YSM chair. At the same time, in our strategic planning focus groups we heard from many clinicians about the desire to be more engaged in strategic decision making in the newly reorganized ambulatory operations. To this end, Patrick Kenney, MD, associate dean for clinical affairs and chief ambulatory physician executive, and Jorge Rodriguez, MPA, executive vice president and chief ambulatory officer for YNHHS, have worked closely with the chairs to develop a charter for a new Ambulatory Clinician Council (ACC). The 12 to 18 members of the ACC will be front-line clinicians nominated by the chairs who provide input into ambulatory operational initiatives and decisions.
Clinician input is critical to ensuring quality and consistency of care for our patients. The contributions of our clinicians, such as those serving on Care Signature Councils and the Clinical Consensus Groups, were instrumental in Yale New Haven Hospital achieving a five-star rating by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This excellence is reflected more broadly in the outstanding care provided by our clinical faculty. In the past year, Yale Medicine was ranked third in the nation among physician practices by Castle Connolly with 397 of our physicians being named Top Doctors. Each year we also recognize clinical excellence through the Leffell Prize for Clinical Excellence and Yale Medicine Distinguished Clinical Career Awards, as we will do again in a week. This recognition is too sparse and, for this reason, Peggy McGovern, MD, PhD, CEO of Yale Medicine, deputy dean for clinical affairs for YSM, and executive vice president and chief physician executive for YNHHS, has invited past award winners to consider criteria for creation of a new Master Clinician designation.
Over the last several decades, increasing documentation, message basket volume, and administrative tasks have taken time away from face-to-face patient care, as well as from family and personal growth. The Aligned Clinician Enterprise (ACE) Epic optimization team is using technology to decrease the burden of technology. The Space2Care care team has worked with more than 450 faculty and clinicians in one-on-one sessions to optimize workflows and preference lists, integrate Abridge ambient documentation in their practice, and leverage shortcuts and new functionality to reduce the number of clicks. The team is also working with faculty in dozens of specialties to validate and evaluate the effectiveness of AI-generated synopses of outpatient and inpatient medical histories, as well as to generate discharge summaries. Allen Hsiao, MD, chief health information officer, and Ritche Hao, MD, medical director for information technology-physician training at YNHHS, are available to share more information at section meetings, grand rounds, or impromptu gatherings.
In his book Drive, author Daniel Pink identified autonomy, mastery, and purpose as the drivers of motivation and creativity. As physicians, purpose drives our work and we seek mastery through lifelong practice and learning. But autonomy can appear elusive as we must be present for patients when they need us and coordinate their care across vast and complicated health systems. While many faculty at YSM find autonomy in their academic time, and the school is notable in providing for time for triennials and sabbaticals, many of our clinicians have far less flexibility. In collaboration with Sarwat Chaudhry, MD, professor of internal medicine and co-director of the Office of Student Research, Dr. McGovern recently initiated a new program enabling clinicians who dedicate at least 80 percent of their time to clinical care to apply for resources to support “passion projects.” In pursuit of purpose, more than 70 clinicians submitted proposals for passion projects and 10 outstanding proposals were funded. These proposals will have a meaningful impact not only on the teams engaged in the work but on our entire academic health system.
YSM clinicians improve the lives of patients and advance medicine. They are passionate about their work and excel in its execution. The work we are doing to “better engage and empower clinical leaders and faculty in the aligned academic health system” will amplify their impact and joy in their work.
Sincerely,
Nancy J. Brown, MD
Jean and David W. Wallace Dean of Medicine
C.N.H. Long Professor of Internal Medicine