Communicating with graduate medical trainees: the Cleveland Clinic experience

Abstract

Optimizing communication with graduate medical trainees is critical, as they contribute importantly to the mission of academic medical centres. Yet, communication is challenged by their complex schedules, geographic separation, and time constraints. Few studies have examined this issue to offer valuable solutions. Because traditional approaches are suboptimal, two communication tools were implemented: (1) a web-based intranet site called [graduate medical education] GME|com, and (2) an electronic newsletter, GME|com Headlines. The goals were to: (1) build a single repository of information relevant to trainees, programme directors, and coordinators, and (2) minimize their email burdens. A post-launch survey showed that >75 % of respondents indicated they visited the site and, of those, >90 % perceived value to the site. Analysis of use over the first year showed 39,377 visits (mean 108/day) and 93,785 pageviews. Sixty percent of users visited GME|com between 9 and 201 times and 18 % >201 times. A survey of programme directors from the 25 largest training programmes in the US confirmed the challenges of communicating with trainees and suboptimal results of current solutions. GME|com and Headlines represent complementary communication tools that have been well-received and frequently used. Future opportunities include assessing the association of GME|com use with increments in quality and patient safety.