(40) How Does Working with Pediatric Hospital Medicine Fellows Impact Residents?

Melissa Baranay, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States; Andrew Watson, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, United States; Katherine Salada, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, United States; Caryn VandenBerg, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, United States; Victoria Rodriguez, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, United States

Background: Pediatric Hospital Medicine (PHM) is the newest subspeciality to receive board certification and fellowship accreditation. Prior studies found that requiring fellowship decreases resident interest in PHM careers. It remains unclear how working with a PHM fellow affects resident experience and perception of PHM fellowship.

Objectives: 1. Explore impact of a PHM fellow on resident autonomy, educational experience, and future career interests
2. Investigate resident understanding of PHM fellow roles and responsibilities

Design/Methods: An anonymous electronic survey via Qualtrics software was distributed to all pediatric residents at a large, academic, free-standing pediatric hospital with 4 PHM fellows during the 2021-2022 academic year. Pediatric residents of all training levels were included (PGY 1-3), regardless of prior experience working with a PHM fellow.

Results: Forty-five residents responded (45/98, 46%), of which 78% (35/45) reported previously working with a PHM fellow. Participants were evenly distributed amongst training levels.
The following are results for residents that have previously worked with PHM fellows. The majority of residents reported the experience of having a fellow on service as enjoyable or neutral (95%, 32/34). Resident educational experience was improved or neutral for 85% (28/33) and feedback was improved or neutral for 88% (29/33). Most residents felt neutral about the effect of working with a PHM fellow on career choice (72%, 23/32).
The following are summative results for all residents that completed the survey, regardless or prior experience working with fellows. 67% of residents reported understanding the role of the PHM fellow on a general medical service (29/43), but only 6% (2/36) reported understanding the fellow’s academic role.

Conclusion: Our study highlights the impact a small number of fellows can have on a large number of pediatric residents. Importantly, having a fellow on service is not perceived as a negative. Resident education is overall benefited by the presence of PHM fellows; however, care must be taken to maintain resident autonomy. Near equal number of residents were more or less likely to pursue a career in PHM after working with fellows at our institution. Next, hope to expand to additional institutions to further explore the impact PHM fellows have on resident education along with integrating early exposure to PHM fellowship to pediatric residents.