Dermatology discharge continuity clinic enhances resident autonomy and insight into transitions-of-care competencies: a cross-sectional survey study

Dermatology residents perform consults onhospitalized patients, but are often limited intheir ability to follow-up with these patients afterdischarge, leading to inadequate follow-up andunderstanding of post-discharge transitions of care.In 2013, a discharge continuity clinic (DCC) staffedby the inpatient consult dermatology resident andattending dermatologist was established at one ofthe four adult hospital sites residents rotate throughin the Harvard Combined Dermatology ResidencyProgram. Resident perceptions about the DCC andtheir educational experience on inpatient consultrotations with a DCC and without a DCC were obtainedusing a cross-sectional survey instrument in June2016. Self-reported data from a multi-year cohort ofdermatology residents (n = 14 of 20, 70% responserate) reveals that the DCC enabled resident autonomyand resident satisfaction in care of their patients,insight into the disease-related challenges and thebroader social context during transitions of care frominpatient to outpatient settings, and more enrichinglearning experiences than inpatient consult rotationswithout a DCC. Dermatology residents self-reportparticipation in an inpatient consult rotation with aDCC supports their autonomy and achievement ofpost-discharge transitions-of-care competencie