Academic Half Day Improves Resident Perception of Education Without Compromising Patient Safety.

BACKGROUND: Residency programs are required to offer a didactic curriculum and protect resident time for education. Our institution implemented an academic half day (AHD) in the 2021-2022 academic year to address issues related to the standard noon conference series. OBJECTIVE: Determine the impact of AHD implementation on education, patient safety, and workflow. METHODS: This was a prospective, single-site educational intervention study. Pre- and post-implementation surveys and Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) surveys assessed changes in trainee and faculty attitudes and behaviors. Patient safety and workflow were evaluated by comparing the number of safety event reports, rapid response team activations, time to admission from the ED, and time of discharge on AHD days compared to other weekdays. RESULTS: Survey response rates were: residents 68%/48%, fellows 42%/35%, and faculty 59%/29%. AHD was associated with a significant, positive change in resident attitudes and experiences and on ACGME survey items. On AHDs compared with other weekdays, there were no significant differences in safety event report rates (P = .98), nor in rapid response team activation rates (P = .99). There was not a clinically meaningful difference in median admission time from the ED on AHD weekdays (125 minutes) compared to other weekdays (130 minutes, P = .04). There was no significant difference in median discharge time on AHD vs other weekdays (P = .13). CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that there is no significant difference in patient safety or workflow with the implementation of AHD. This study supports prior studies that residents strongly prefer AHD. AHD may be a useful framework for resident education without compromising patient care.

Factors Associated With Hospitalization in Children and Adolescents With SARS-CoV-2 Infection.

In this retrospective study of 319 children with laboratory-confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, we assessed whether age, asthma, obesity, diabetes, and socioeconomic status were associated with hospitalization for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Demographic and clinical characteristics were assessed using univariate statistics, excluding incidental or unrelated positives. There was a bimodal distribution of age among hospitalized children. Obesity (P < .001) and a past medical history of diabetes (P = .001) were significantly more prevalent in hospitalized children, including cases of new-onset diabetes and diabetic ketoacidosis. Neither a past medical history of asthma nor lower socioeconomic status was associated with hospitalization. Although limited to a single center, the findings in this study may have important clinical implications. Targeted, proactive health outreach to children with obesity and diabetes, with prioritization of preventative efforts such as vaccination, may be important in preventing worse SARS-CoV-2 infection in this vulnerable group.