Description of a formal clinical pathology on-call simulation workshop in preparing pathology residents to address common after-hours phone calls

Objectives: Residents take clinical pathology call beginning in the second year of residency. However, this additional responsibility often causes anxiety in residents who may have had only limited contact with laboratory sections they will be covering on call. We set out to improve the practical knowledge and comfort of the residents before taking clinical pathology call. Methods: A scenario-based simulation-style workshop was developed to acquaint residents with the common issues that arise, and guide them through acquiring the necessary data and developing an action plan. A nine-question survey was given before and after the workshop to determine if the workshop improved their comfort level with taking call. Results: Of the nine questions, the six questions dealing with clinical pathology laboratory section-specific knowledge showed that residents were less anxious and more confident about taking call after the workshop. Conclusions: A scenario-based workshop is an effective way to acquaint residents with the basics of taking call, and teaches practical approaches to common clinical pathology issues.