Rheumatology Image of the Month: A Low Resource Innovation With Measurable Results

OBJECTIVES: Strategies to increase confidence in rheumatology knowledge are valuable for medical trainees and residents. A web-based teaching innovation was implemented in an attempt to increase rheumatology exposure for internal medicine residents. METHODS: An Image of the Month webpage was established, where a practicing rheumatologist would post a new image that could be answered online by internal medicine residents. Cumulative data was analyzed to determine the extent and change in rheumatology exposure. RESULTS: The Image of the Month webpage posted images for a total of 76 months between July 2010 to May 2017, with a total of 1326 submitted responses. The proportion of residents who only participated in Image of the Month and only did a rheumatology rotation averaged 36.1% and 16.5%, respectively. The proportion of residents who only participated in Image of the Month was higher than the proportion who only did a rheumatology rotation for all of the 7 time periods assessed. A total of 491 residents participated in Image of the Month, with an average of 54.9% of residents participating each year. Overall, on average, 52 residents had 1 or more submissions, 3.6 entries were submitted per resident, and 17.4 entries were submitted per month. Junior residents (PGY1) participated more often than senior residents (PGY3). CONCLUSIONS: The Image of the Month webpage successfully improves internal medicine resident exposure to rheumatology with minimal resources and manpower required. Further study is necessary to determine the impact this exposure may have on the abilities and confidence levels of internal medicine residents.