@article{10.22454/FamMed.2021.272274,
author = {Compton, Rebekah and Sebring, Amanda and Dalrymple, Sarah and Rollins, Lisa K.},
title = {Engaging Family Medicine Residents in a Structured Patient Panel Reassignment Process},
journal = {Family Medicine},
volume = {53},
number = {4},
year = {2021},
month = {4},
pages = {300-304},
doi = {10.22454/FamMed.2021.272274},
abstract = {Background and Objectives: The patient panels of graduating residents must be reassigned by the end of residency. This process affects over 1 million patients annually within the specialty of family medicine. The purpose of this project was to implement a structured, year-end reassignment system in a family medicine residency program.
Methods: Our structured reassignment process took place from December 2017 through June 2020. Panel lists of current, active patients were generated and residents were responsible for reassigning their own panels during a panel reassignment night. We created a tip sheet that addressed patient complexity and continuity, a risk stratification algorithm based on patients’ medical and social complexity, and a tool that tracked the number of patients assigned to each future provider. Outcome measures included a resident satisfaction survey administered in 2018-2020 and patient-provider continuity measured with a run chart from December 2016 through August 2020.
Results: The resident survey response rate was 75%. Seventy-three percent felt the panel reassignment night was very helpful; 87% thought the reassignment timeline was extremely reasonable, and 87% indicated that they had the necessary information to reassign their patients. Residents also felt confident that their patients were reassigned appropriately (33% extremely confident, 67% somewhat confident). Patient continuity improved with a 13-point run above the median, indicating nonrandom variation. Patient continuity remained above the median until the impact of COVID-19 in April 2020.
Conclusion: Our structured reassignment process was received positively by residents and resulted in improved patient continuity.},
URL = {https://journals.stfm.org//familymedicine/2021/april/rollins-2020-0508/},
eprint = {https://journals.stfm.org//media/3802/rollins-2020-0508.pdf},
}