TY - JOUR
T1 - A community of practice to address system-based issues and promote clinical leadership among trainee medical officers in a large public health service
T2 - an evaluation of a trainee-led forum
AU - Koopowitz, Samuel M.
AU - Arnold, Matthew
AU - Inglis, Joshua M.
AU - Hon, Kay
AU - Vanlint, Andrew
AU - Koopowitz, Leslie F.
AU - O'Callaghan, Gerry
PY - 2023/10/30
Y1 - 2023/10/30
N2 - Clinical leadership is necessary to improve the performance of large public hospitals. Trainee medical officers (TMOs) are important stakeholders in organisation-wide initiatives that affect the medical workforce and support clinician engagement. This case study describes the development of a representative body known as the 'TMO Forum' within the Central Adelaide Local Health Network as a mechanism to promote engagement between medical trainees and the hospital executive to facilitate escalation and discussion of system-based issues. Over the past 8 years, this group has evolved into a community of practice with steady and sustained growth since inception. Trainees have fostered relationships with the executive, and have engaged in leadership and quality improvement initiatives. Here we explore the evolution, value and barriers to success of the TMO Forum. Our discussion is supplemented with findings from anonymous online evaluation surveys of both the TMO and executive stakeholder groups. We propose that initiatives such as the described may offer reciprocal benefits to both constituent groups regarding communication, and that the development of a dedicated community of practice will enhance engagement of TMOs in health service improvement initiatives and advocacy. However, there are obstacles to overcome in order to attract a greater number of trainees and maximise the benefits from this initiative.
AB - Clinical leadership is necessary to improve the performance of large public hospitals. Trainee medical officers (TMOs) are important stakeholders in organisation-wide initiatives that affect the medical workforce and support clinician engagement. This case study describes the development of a representative body known as the 'TMO Forum' within the Central Adelaide Local Health Network as a mechanism to promote engagement between medical trainees and the hospital executive to facilitate escalation and discussion of system-based issues. Over the past 8 years, this group has evolved into a community of practice with steady and sustained growth since inception. Trainees have fostered relationships with the executive, and have engaged in leadership and quality improvement initiatives. Here we explore the evolution, value and barriers to success of the TMO Forum. Our discussion is supplemented with findings from anonymous online evaluation surveys of both the TMO and executive stakeholder groups. We propose that initiatives such as the described may offer reciprocal benefits to both constituent groups regarding communication, and that the development of a dedicated community of practice will enhance engagement of TMOs in health service improvement initiatives and advocacy. However, there are obstacles to overcome in order to attract a greater number of trainees and maximise the benefits from this initiative.
KW - clinical governance
KW - clinical leadership
KW - community of practice
KW - health services management
KW - medical workforce
KW - patient care
KW - professional development
KW - quality improvement
KW - service delivery
KW - trainee medical officers
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85179131488&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1071/AH23182
DO - 10.1071/AH23182
M3 - Article
C2 - 37899271
AN - SCOPUS:85179131488
SN - 0156-5788
VL - 47
SP - 667
EP - 670
JO - Australian Health Review
JF - Australian Health Review
IS - 6
ER -