72 Developing and implementing a systems innovation, Quality/Process Improvement, and Patient Safety (SIQIPS) Promotion pathway for faculty of paediatrics

Abstract Background Healthcare faculty often engage in initiatives beyond clinical care, including quality improvement, systems innovation, and patient safety work. These activities are critical for enhancing healthcare service delivery. However, there is a lack of standardized criteria for recognizing such efforts in academic promotion, which can reduce enthusiasm among clinicians to pursue and sustain these projects. Recognizing this gap, BC Children's Hospital (BCCH), an academic institution with 20 divisions and 252 faculty members (80% in clinical roles), initiated a structured effort to standardize promotion criteria for faculty involved in SIQIPS (Systems Innovation, Quality/Process Improvement, and Patient Safety) work. Objectives The primary objectives were to: (1) develop, achieve consensus, and obtain approval from the University of British Columbia (UBC) Department of Pediatrics (DoP) for a promotion pathway specific to SIQIPS, and (2) assess the feasibility and impact of a workshop designed to promote awareness of the SIQIPS pathway, focusing on faculty perceptions of its usefulness and ease of implementation Design/Methods This project was a community-engaged, prospective improvement initiative conducted from February 2020 to January 2024. For Objective 1, an iterative methodology was employed. The working group performed a comprehensive literature review and engaged stakeholders, including promotion committee members, faculty with a vested interest in SIQIPS, and division chiefs. These engagements occurred through interviews, meetings, and email consultations to validate the existing challenges, explore potential solutions, and refine the draft guidelines. After securing DoP clinical faculty promotions committee approval, the guideline was submitted to the UBC Faculty of Medicine for broader implementation consideration. For Objective 2, a feasibility study was conducted between February and June 2024. A 1.5-hour in-person workshop was developed, incorporating didactic instruction, practical documentation exercises, group discussions, and a feedback session. Participants received guidance on completing SIQIPS documentation in a standardized format and engaged in discussions on the criteria and processes of the SIQIPS promotion pathway. Results The literature review and an environmental scan of promotion criteria at three other universities provided tools to formalize SIQIPS activities within the promotion pathway. Stakeholder engagement highlighted key themes essential for guideline development, including defining SIQIPS work, identifying metrics that demonstrate achievement, and establishing promotion requirements. The SIQIPS section was successfully added to the university's standardized CV template. Presentations of the SIQIPS promotion framework to faculty and promotion committees yielded positive feedback, with 87.5% of respondents agreeing or strongly agreeing that the framework clarified SIQIPS scholarship and motivated continued involvement in this domain. After iterative refinements, the DoP approved the guideline (Fig-1). The inaugural workshop included nine faculty members, all of whom reported an increase in knowledge and understanding of SIQIPS documentation and promotion requirements post-workshop (100% improvement compared to pre-workshop) (Fig-2). Conclusion The development and implementation of a standardized SIQIPS promotion pathway guideline have clarified the criteria for faculty involved in systems innovation, quality improvement, and patient safety work. The feasibility study demonstrated that the workshop effectively raised awareness and supported faculty in understanding and pursuing the SIQIPS promotion track. Future plans include offering the workshop biannually and tracking the proportion of faculty who apply for promotion under the SIQIPS pathway.