SOS! A Curriculum for Teaching Residents More Than Medicine

ACGME has emphasized incorporating the social determinants of health (SDH) into resident education. ACGME CLER Health Quality Pathway 5 and 6 focus on resident and faculty education on health disparities and social determinants of health (SDH). Our workshop will introduce an innovative rotation and curriculum that seeks to have residents See the Other Side (SOS) of medicine. We present an exciting opportunity to balance principles of SDH, wellness, and interdisciplinary teamwork in an open-minded and collaborative environment.

Piedmont Athens Regional has implemented a two-week rotation called (SOS), designed around four core pillars: social determinants of health, patient experience, interdisciplinary team, and art of doctoring. It provides both didactic and experiential learning. A pre-post-test measures the rotation's effects on resident knowledge and attitudes towards SDH and health care disparities. This session includes a process for implementation and engaging stakeholders. The goal of the rotation is to have the residents experience life from the "other side," including patients, social workers, pharmacists, community partners, and many others.

The session includes demonstrated successes of the rotation, both statistically and anecdotally from residents after one year of implementation. The rotation has not only become a favorite of the residents, but has also demonstrated the ability to change resident practice. This session is highly interactive and engaging, including a testimony from a resident with their successes and lessons learning from the rotation. Participants will learn a process for implementation and engaging stakeholders and assess the challenges that participants may encounter.