Elizabeth G. Doherty

I completed my Neonatal-Perinatal Fellowship at CHB in 2004. I subsequently completed another fellowship (1 year) in Medical Education, the Morgan-Zinsser Academy Fellowship through HMS. After completing this fellowship, I was able to further my research career within: 1) Medical Education a) Assessment b) Curriculum Development 2) Clinical Investigation with QI focus I am now an active member of the Academy at CHB where I continue to collaborate with others on my medical education research projects. 

I am co-educator for the interdisciplinary training program, Teamwork Training for the Early Detection and Management of Crisis Events in the NICU. We are currently (2012) running our Second Graduate Level Course created from needs assessment and feedback from the Primer Courses. This course continues to allow participants to practice CRM principals in the setting of challenging case scenarios (e.g. PPHN). Our multidisciplinary Neonatal CRM team collaborated to write a peer-reviewed article in Newborn & Infant Nursing Reviews, March 2011: “Development of a Neonatal Intensive Care Multidisciplinary Crisis Resource Training Program.” 

The Graduate Course for September is currently underway. As part of a multidisciplinary team involving physician, nursing, and respiratory leadership, I developed a Practice Guideline for PPHN for patients admitted to CHB NICU. The Practice Guideline was approved by the Steering Committee March 2011 (this guideline is currently being used to develop the PPHN SCAMP). The Research Project tied to this project involves a primary question: Can standardization of the management of PPHN be achieved? If so, were patient outcomes improved, was there improved efficiency in resource allocation, and was there overall reduction in cost. 

During our CRM Simulation course we administer 3 surveys after transport calls focused on a patient with PPHN. The data from these surveys will address variation in management and interpretation of data among interdisciplinary groups. CHB has launched an initiative to develop Standardized Clinical Assessment and Management Plans (SCAMPs) within each department. Our PPHN Practice Guideline was selected to be developed into a SCAMP. I am currently working with an interdisciplinary team to launch the PPHN SCAMP in June 2012. I am also part of the team working on implementation of SCAMPS within the CHB-Affiliated Community Hospitals. Another research focus of mine is within the evaluation process for Neonatal-Perinatal Fellows in our program. 

In August 2008, I was selected to be a member of the Academy at Children's Hospital Boston. The mission of the Academy is to foster the continuous improvement of teaching and learning at CHB through its support of educational leadership and innovation. My project (2008-current) focuses on the evaluation process for Harvard Newborn Medicine Fellows, specifically implementation of a 360 degree tool. I wrote an article with Dara Brodsky, MD, published in NeoReviews, April 2011: “The 360-Degree Assessment: A New Paradigm in Trainee Evaluation.” I have been working in collaboration with the Fellowship Director, Dr. John Zupancic, and Newborn Medicine Division Chief, Dr. Stella Kourembanas, to meet ACGME needs and to provide feedback to elevate the training of newborn medicine fellows. My research question focuses on methodology for the evaluation process. 

The Assessment System is accessible via the web and was implemented June 2011. Pre-surveys have been completed as part of my research component for ultimate test of tool effectiveness. The evaluation form is currently in use by Attendings within the New Innovations system. The evaluation form to be completed by families is separate from the one used by medical staff. The first completed Harvard Neonatal-Perinatal Fellow 360-Degree Assessment cycle year will be completed June 2012. I was selected to present my 6 month data in the Academy at HMS Interhospital Collaborative Conference for Medical Education, February 2012. I wrote another article with Dara Brodsky, MD, that will be published in NeoReviews, April 2012: “Bedside Teaching: Rediscovering a lost art.” I am launching a pilot study: Implementing Bedside Teaching within the Harvard Neonatal-Perinatal Fellowship Program, Spring 2012. 

In collaboration with Dr. Anne Hansen and Dr. Ceara McNiff, I have helped launch a Community Outreach and Education Program (2009-current) for Children's Hospital Satellite Special Care Nurseries. The aim of the program is to establish a joint quality assurance/quality improvement process for the purpose of evaluating and enhancing the quality of care provided to patients transferred to or transported by CHB. The Program also provides a yearly educational symposium for review of interesting cases and review of new therapeutic advances.