Role of the clinical learning environment in preparing new clinicians to engage in quality improvement efforts to eliminate health care disparities

Purpose The National Collaborative for Improving the Clinical Learning Environment offers guidance to health care leaders for engaging new clinicians in efforts to eliminate health care disparities. Summary To address health care disparities that are pervasive across the United States, individuals at all levels of the health care system need to commit to ensuring equity in care. Engaging new clinicians is a key element of any systems-based approach, as new clinicians will shape the future of health care delivery. Clinical learning environments, or the hospitals, medical centers, and ambulatory care clinics where new clinicians train, have an important role in this process. Efforts may include training in cultural humility and cultural competency, education about the organization’s vulnerable populations, and continuous interprofessional experiential learning through comprehensive, systems-based QI efforts focused on eliminating health care disparities. Conclusion By preparing and supporting new clinicians to engage in systems-based QI efforts to eliminate health care disparities, clinical learning environments are instilling skills and supporting behaviors that clinicians can build throughout their careers—and helping pave the road towards equity throughout the US health care system.