The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) plays a crucial role in the United States by accrediting post-MD medical training programs. Similarly, the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) accredits post-DO programs. For programs seeking accreditation, substantial compliance with ACGME or AOA requirements is necessary, followed by a formal application.
The ACGME and AOA have established a unified accreditation system. This system ensures that graduates from both allopathic and osteopathic medical schools can pursue residency and fellowship training within ACGME-accredited programs. This unified approach also aims to standardize the demonstration of core competencies and milestones across these programs.
For those interested in establishing accredited hospice and palliative medicine training programs, understanding the specific program requirements is the first critical step.
Key ACGME Documents for Program Requirements
To begin the accreditation process and complete the application, program directors must familiarize themselves with essential documents available on the ACGME website. These documents outline the specific criteria and expectations for hospice and palliative medicine fellowship programs.
Essential ACGME Resources:
- Program Requirements: This document details the institutional and common requirements applicable across all specialties and subspecialties accredited by ACGME. It provides a foundational understanding of the overarching accreditation standards.
- Subspecialty Program Requirements: This is a specialty-specific document outlining the precise requirements for Hospice and Palliative Medicine (HPM) programs. It is crucial for understanding the unique criteria for HPM fellowship accreditation.
- Companion Document: This resource elaborates on the core competencies expected for HPM fellowship training. It serves as a guide for program development and evaluation, ensuring fellows achieve necessary skill sets.
- Reporting Milestones: This document details the milestones programs are required to report on, providing a framework for assessing fellow progress and program effectiveness.
- HPM FAQs: This Frequently Asked Questions document addresses common queries related to HPM program requirements, offering valuable clarifications and practical guidance.
For programs also considering AOA accreditation resources, the following link is relevant:
- AOA Postdoctoral Training Resources: This link provides access to the American Osteopathic Association’s resources for postdoctoral training, useful for programs considering dual accreditation or seeking to understand the AOA perspective.
Preparing Your ACGME Application for Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship
The ACGME provides specific guidance for preparing your hospice and palliative medicine program application.
Refer to the ACGME’s hospice and palliative medicine program application instructions for detailed steps. It is important to note that applications are accepted from programs whose Sponsoring Institution also sponsors an ACGME-accredited program in a core specialty. These include anesthesiology, family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, or radiation oncology, ensuring a robust institutional foundation for the fellowship.
Resource: The Journey to ACGME Accreditation: A Program’s Perspectives and Practical Guidance From the ACGME (July 16, 2016) offers valuable insights and practical advice from programs that have successfully navigated the ACGME accreditation process.
ACGME Review Process for Accreditation
The review and accreditation decisions for hospice and palliative medicine fellowship programs are conducted by the ACGME Residency Review Committee (RRC) associated with the fellowship’s respective core specialty. Programs deemed noncompliant with requirements are given the opportunity to address the RRC’s concerns and citations. This iterative process ensures fairness and allows programs to achieve compliance and ultimately, accreditation.
