Recruitment and Sustainability in an Interprofessional Student Run Rounds

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to discuss physical therapy student and faculty involvement in Jeff-Chat, a student-run organization modeled after Schwartz Center Rounds®. These rounds provide the opportunity for interdisciplinary clinicians to share their experiences in an open dialogue that promotes compassionate healthcare, as well as strengthen the relationship between caregiver and patient. There were a number of students participating in the clinical Schwartz Center Rounds held on our campus and it became apparent that there was a need for rounds targeted towards students. In December of 2010,ThomasJeffersonUniversitypiloted its first student-run Schwartz Rounds entitled Jeff-CHAT. Students from all disciplines who have completed clinical rotations are invited to attend monthly meetings to discuss various topics that are frequently encountered during a caregiver-patient relationship. Three panelists begin each session with a narrative of his or her experiences about the given topic. Previous topics are “Feelings of Failure When Things Don’t Work” or “A Difficult Patient”. After the panelists have spoken, discussion is opened to the audience to participate with the panelists and each other. As the session concludes, each person is asked to complete a survey about the quality of the day’s round. These surveys are collected and analyzed for future improvement. The highest numbers of students participating in the rounds have been from physical therapy and they are seen as leaders within the organization. They also report the highest clinical importance and high satisfaction with the meetings. Effective strategies for garnering involvement and engaging students as organizers, panelists and active listeners, in the monthly meetings will be discussed. This paper will be of interest for those developing similar models of rounds at their university and who would like to learn more about methods for promoting leadership and increasing and maintaining student involvement in such an organization. Learning Objectives: 1. Discuss strategies to recruit panelists, leaders, and attendees for interprofessional Schwartz Center Rounds. 2. Define and value the role of faculty in student-run organizations in order to address sustainability.