Previously, our residents attended continuity clinics one half-day per week on average, often scheduled at irregular intervals and during busy inpatient rotations. This system was disruptive to inpatient and outpatient continuity of care and offered limited early exposure to outpatient subspecialties. On July 1, 2018, we transitioned to a clinic block model –  five weeks of clinical rotations followed by one outpatient clinic week. During the clinic week, residents attend continuity clinics five half-days, specialty clinics four half-days, and have one half-day free. Residents are assigned to cohorts, and all patient calls are fielded by the cohort member who is on clinic block. We hypothesized that this system would improve resident and faculty satisfaction with continuity of inpatient and outpatient care, exposure to various subspecialties and faculty, resident learning, and work-life balance.

To assess the impact of a novel clinic block schedule and patient call back paradigm on resident and faculty satisfaction, work-life balance, and subspecialty exposure.

Residents were surveyed to assess satisfaction with continuity of care, exposure to outpatient subspecialties and faculty, work-life balance, education, and the patient call-back system. Senior residents were asked to compare the current and prior systems. A modified survey was sent to faculty.

28/29 (96%) residents responded to the survey. 27/28 (96%) residents reported favorable experiences with the new system. 100% of residents felt it was superior to the prior system, citing continuity of care and improved work-life balance as reasons for increased satisfaction. Of 15 faculty surveyed, 80% reported favorable experiences with the new system, mainly due to improved resident education and exposure to outpatient subspecialties.

Residents and faculty express satisfaction with the clinic block system and specifically felt it significantly improved overall continuity of care, exposure to outpatient specialties, work-life balance, and ability to respond to patient calls.