Our Projects

Student Research Projects

Safer Surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center

This study aims to implement a safety checklist into the electronic white board system of Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s operating rooms in order to increase operative team compliance with pre-incision safety practices. Poster: Electronic Checklist in the Operating Room Increases Surgical Team Compliance with Pre-incision Safety Practices

Volunteer and Patient Satisfaction at the Shade Tree Family Clinic

These studies examine the satisfaction levels of both volunteer providers and patients at the local student-run free clinic. Poster: Patient Satisfaction Survey at the Shade Tree Clinic: A Tool for Quality Improvement Measures in a Student-Run Clinic

Review of Peripartum Depression Screening at the West End Women’s Health Center

This study reviews the effectiveness of peripartum depression screening tools in preventing postpartum depression at a local women’s clinic.

Educational Programs

Fundamentals of Quality Improvement in Health Care: An Interdisciplinary Elective

The Vanderbilt Healthcare Improvement Group (VHIG) has designed a semester-long elective that consists of lectures and case-based learning experiences to serve as an introduction to quality improvement. The goal is to create an interprofessional course with participation of students with diverse backgrounds and perspectives. The course is offered to students enrolled in the Vanderbilt University Law School, Peabody College of Education & Human Development, Owen Graduate School of Management, School of Medicine, and School of Nursing. For more information, contact thomas.e.davis@vanderbilt.edu. Poster: Fundamentals of Quality Improvement in Health Care: An Interdisciplinary Elective

The Quality Improvement Practicum: An Elective for Senior Medical Students

VHIG has created an elective offered to fourth-year medical students that provides hands-on experience in conducting quality improvement and patient safety studies in a clinical setting. Students receive credit as they participate in a project at one of the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine’s affiliated hospitals or clinics. For more information, contact yash.a.choksi@vanderbilt.edu. Poster: The Quality Improvement Practicum: An Elective for Senior Medical Students

VHIG-Shade Tree Family Clinic Partnership

VHIG has partnered with the Shade Tree Family Clinic, a student-run free clinic that provides healthcare to the uninsured and underserved population of East Nashville. Several VHIG-sponsored studies are underway to improve the quality of care at the clinic, including examining patient documentation, volunteer satisfaction, and patient satisfaction. For more information, contact natalie.l.ausborn@vanderbilt.edu.