Quality improvement for age-friendly care: An experiential model for instructing medical students in system-based practice

ABSTRACT

Early learning experiences in quality improvement (QI) can prepare medical students for practice in complex health systems and can improve processes of care for various groups, including older adult patients with multiple chronic conditions. We applied the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) Age-Friendly Health Systems 4Ms framework to a twelve-week geriatrics-focused QI project for third-year medical students training in rural medicine. Students (N = 40) conducted their projects at primary care practice sites and focused on the identified needs of older adult patients within the 4Ms framework areas of Mobility, Mentation, Medication, and What Matters. Students completed evaluation surveys to rate the usefulness of training and to self-assess knowledge and skills using five-point Likert-type items. Students (n = 23) reported increased knowledge and skills in conducting QI activities and improved understanding of the importance of improving processes and patient care. Such projects for QI training can support competency development in systems-based practice while also implementing practice frameworks for improving processes and patient care, such as the use of Age-Friendly practices and resources within a health care setting.

KEYWORDS:

• System-based practice
• quality improvement
• experiential education
• age-friendly health systems
• geriatrics
• undergraduate medical education
• older adults

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the University of North Texas Health Science Center’s ROME Program in the development of this project, and the ROME students and preceptors who participated in this project.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration [U1QHP28735] (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under Grant number [U1QHP28735]. The contents are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.