A structured educational effort to train primary care providers (PCPs) to perform joint injections has been projected to be cost effective. The US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is developing a national continuing professional development program to train PCPs in the evaluation and management of patients with common musculoskeletal conditions. The objective of this pilot project was to confirm initial projections of cost effectiveness and to inform further efforts to develop this program on a national scale.
The Salt Lake City VA served as the national hub for this pilot project. The initial phase included 19 providers, who participated in a weeklong mixed-methods course. Evaluation was conducted by the VA Employee Education System. Assessments included anonymous surveys, structured telephone interviews, and a review of de-identified procedure codes.
The survey response rate was 100%, with uniformly positive results. All participants recommended the expansion of this program. The mean number of joint injections performed each month increased from 0.3 (precourse) to 3.5 (postcourse), congruent with prior analyses projecting program cost effectiveness.
The musculoskeletal mini-residency is a well-received program, with early evidence of cost effectiveness and impact aligned with course objectives. This pilot program is a foundation for efforts in the national dissemination of this initiative.