Overview
The VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System was recently awarded two positions in the VA Chief Resident in Quality and Safety (CRQS) program. The CRQS is a post-residency one-year position offered in select VA Medical Centers. The CRQS program’s objective is to develop emerging physician leaders in Quality Improvement and Patient Safety through a mix of didactic and experiential learning. The VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (TVHS) in Nashville and Murfreesboro, TN offers two CRQS positions, one in Emergency Medicine and one in Hospital Medicine. This program is built in partnership with the Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center (GRECC) along with the Quality Safety and Value Service at TVHS and its academic affiliate at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Each CRQS begins in July of the respective academic years.
 

Program Description

Our CRQS program achieves this goal by mentoring the CRQS to develop expertise in the use of quality improvement methods, implementation science, patient safety and High Reliability Organization (HRO) principles through formal didactic and experiential learning based on quality improvement projects.  After learning how to teach quality improvement, the CRQS will teach quality improvement design strategies to junior faculty, residents, and medical students.  During the year, the CRQS will participate in the national VA CRQS curriculum in addition to national Quality and Safety conferences. The culmination of the CRQS project being highlighted through scholarly work. 

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Through this program, each CRQS time allocation is as follows: 

• Didactic and Experiential Learning (50%); AND

• QI Teaching (25%); AND 

• Clinical Effort (25%) in respective clinical areas

 

The VA CRQS Program is a non-accredited post-residency one year position offered at VA TVHS.  The Chief Residents must have completed their primary residency training and be board eligible for their specialty.  They must qualify for credentialing and privileging as a licensed independent practitioner in their specialty. The CRQS will also be appointed as Instructor at the academic affiliate, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, in their respective departments. 

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Application Process

All applicants must meet the pre-specified CRQS eligibility requirements. The application process includes a cover letter, curriculum vitae, personal statement, and 2-3 references. The Advisory Committee will review all applicants. Each applicant will be graded on the following criteria:

• Commitment to improving Veteran health 

• Prior clinical and academic performance 

• Previous QI interest and experience 

• Results of the interview process 

• Faculty assessment of the candidate’s dedication to and aptitude for a career in VHA 

Selected applicants will interview with the Site Co-Directors and selected members of the Advisory Committee.

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Contacts

Michael Ward MD, PhD, MBA: michael.j.ward@vumc.org or michael.ward1@va.gov

• Site Co-Director, Emergency Medicine CRQS

 

Kelly Sopko MD, SFHM: kelly.l.sopko@vumc.org or kelly.sopko@va.gov

• Site Co-Director, Hospital Medicine CRQS

 

Useful Links

VA Office of Academic Affiliations, Chief Resident for Quality and Safety: https://www.va.gov/oaa/crqs.asp

 

VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System (TVHS): https://www.tennesseevalley.va.gov/

 

Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Section of Hospital Medicine: https://medicine.vumc.org/hospitalmedicine

 

Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Department of Emergency Medicine: https://www.vanderbiltem.com/

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