The Interdisciplinary Academy for Coaching and Teamwork (I-ACT): A novel approach for training faculty experts in preventing healthcare-associated infection - Abstract

BACKGROUND: The Interdisciplinary Academy for Coaching and Teamwork (I-ACT) was an advanced course aimed at educating leaders of a quality improvement project on addressing clinical challenges associated with catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), overcoming socioadaptive issues among a multidisciplinary team, and effective coaching.

METHODS: The I-ACT course provided substantial opportunities for interaction among participants and faculty experts through role playing. Participants were grouped so that each discipline of a potential CAUTI improvement team was represented during interactive components of the training. Precourse and postcourse surveys were used to assess participants' comfort in addressing various challenges associated with implementation of interventions.

RESULTS: After the course, participants expressed improved comfort with using the tools provided to address challenging socioadaptive issues. Written comments indicated that the participants valued being able to learn from experts and meet in a face-to-face setting.

CONCLUSIONS: The I-ACT course was successful in training faculty to serve as improvement experts for US hospitals working on CAUTI prevention. After completing the course, participants felt that their comfort and ability to address complex improvement problems had improved. This model may be effective for use in preparing improvement project leaders and participants to tackle other healthcare-associated infections and complex quality problems.

Written by:
Nickel W, Saint S, Olmsted RN, Chu E, Greene L, Edson BS, Flanders SA.   Are you the author?
Center for Patient Partnership in Healthcare, American College of Physicians, Philadelphia, PA; Center for Clinical Management Research, VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System, Ann Arbor, MI; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI; Infection Prevention and Control Services, Saint Joseph Mercy Health System, Ann Arbor, MI; Department of Medicine, Boulder Community Health and University of Colorado School of Medicine, Denver, CO; Infection Control and Epidemiology, Rochester General Health System, Rochester, NY; Health Research & Educational Trust, American Hospital Association, Chicago, IL; Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI.  

Reference: Am J Infect Control. 2014 Oct;42(10 Suppl):S230-5.
doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2014.06.005


PubMed Abstract
PMID: 25239715