Development of a Social Determinants of Health Curriculum for Emergency Medicine Residents

Curricular Design: The project started with a needs assessment of the PGY-2 class.We queried familiarity with locations in the ED, patient processes, ED services, and causes of patient frustrations.We used this information as targeted learning points for our curriculum.PGY-1s were given a pre-survey.They were put into groups to go through an in situ simulated patient experience in different areas of our ED.The simulation consisted of triage, bed placement and monitor hook-up, registration, transportation to imaging, etc.A debriefing session was conducted and the post-survey was given.Impact: PGY-1s reported they had an increased understanding of ED patient flow, contributing factors to patient frustrations, and the connection between patient experiences and patient outcomes.All participants selected that this experience will positively impact their ability to relate to patients and be valuable to their medical education.Conducting an in situ patient experience simulation is a practical and effective way to develop empathy in residents and increase their responsiveness to patients' needs and concerns.