Dec. 14, 2015: Strategic Plan Update on Education: Valuing Our Culture

Dear Colleagues,

The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine's Class of 2019 has settled into the academic year. We are encouraged that the quality of our students and the commitment of our faculty members continue to position us to achieve the goal of the education strategic priority of the Johns Hopkins Medicine Strategic Plan—to lead the world in the education and training of physicians and biomedical scientists. As we review the progress we have made over the past two years, we are seeing the transformative influence it is having on our medical and biomedical education. From the curricula, to innovative methods of instruction, to the avoidance of unnecessary medical tests and procedures, it is clear that a cultural change in how we teach and practice medicine is at hand.

Creating Leaders in Primary Care
We are excited to share that after months of preparation, we have selected nine students to enroll in the school of medicine's new primary care leadership track. This inaugural program incorporates a curriculum in which service learning is valued. Students benefit from a three-year outpatient experience in internal medicine, geriatrics, pediatrics and family practice; mentorship and workshops that culminate in a subinternship; and a scholarly concentration project. Our goal is to graduate empathetic primary care leaders with advanced skills in behavioral health, analysis of primary care delivery systems, teamwork, advocacy and partnering with communities to promote health.

Exposing Students to New Careers in Science
While the traditional academic track for graduate students leads to a tenured faculty position, the interests of our students have become more diversified. With our guidance, next-generation scientists will make an impact not just in the classroom or lab, but also in government, business, nonprofits, and the drug delivery and device industry.

The Biomedical Careers Initiative (BCI) exposes graduate students to opportunities from which they can acquire skills and build resources to succeed in diverse career paths. More than 300 students have attended BCI presentations, workshops and networking events. Nineteen have completed internships, and three have since graduated and found jobs in their fields of interest. We look forward to more success stories about this initiative, including its impact on student recruitment and retention.

High-Value Patient Care
Health care is shifting from a volume-based reimbursement model to one based on value, quality and safety. It is essential that our students and residents understand that reducing unnecessary medical tests and procedures can be an effective way to increase the quality of care while reducing its cost. As part of the national Choosing Wisely initiative, we charged residency and fellowship directors with identifying at least one test or procedure to reduce or eliminate because it was not delivering high-value, cost-conscious care. We are pleased to report that more than 40 were targeted, and the impact of reducing or eliminating these tests or procedures is being evaluated. Additional potentially unnecessary tests, procedures and treatments are being considered for reduction or elimination as well.

To give you an example: Instead of scheduling routine daily chest X-rays for all patients, the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center internal medicine residency appealed to providers to order chest X-rays only for patients experiencing new symptoms. As a result of this and other interventions, X-rays were reduced by 28 percent over a six-month period—a cost savings of about $3,700 a month and an effective means of reducing patient radiation exposure. Patients were also able to get more precious uninterrupted sleep, since these tests were routinely done between 3 and 6 a.m.

Many of our faculty members, trainees and students are engaged in these types of clinical interventions. Some 50 abstracts featuring the results of these clinical and research initiatives, as well as cutting-edge procedures and treatments, will be highlighted in our first school of medicine High-Value Practice Research Symposium on Feb. 1, 2016. We hope you will attend to learn more about how we are increasing the value of care.

Remember, if you have questions or suggestions regarding the Strategic Plan, please email strategicplan@jhmi.edu.

Sincerely,

Paul B. Rothman, M.D.
Dean of the Medical Faculty
CEO, Johns Hopkins Medicine

Ronald R. Peterson
President
The Johns Hopkins Hospital and Health System
EVP, Johns Hopkins Medicine