Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education core competencies initiative: the road to implementation in the surgical specialties

The New ACS/APDS Skills Curriculum: Moving the Learning Curve Out of the Operating Room

“…These phases were chosen to specifically address the ACGME core competencies (Table 1), many of which are difficult to teach and assess using conventional methods. 5 In particular, technical skills (often considered as part of patient care), interpersonal and communication skills, and professionalism may be effectively taught using simulation.…”

“…5 This is especially true for many advanced gastrointestinal, laparoscopic, and endoscopic procedures, and minimum case numbers in several of these areas have recently been increased. 6 Financial constraints have further limited opportunities for teaching in the operating room.…”

“…For residents, the ACGME introduced the six core competencies (Table 1), which are designed to comprehensively define training objectives. 5 For practicing surgeons, the American Board of Surgery (ABS) adopted these same competencies and instituted four components for Maintenance of Certification, including professional standing, lifelong learning, cognitive expertise, and evaluation of performance in practice. While many aspects of the ACGME and ABS guidelines can be verified using conventional methods, it is clear that new strategies for assuring competency are needed.…”

Morbidity and Mortality Conference in Emergency Medicine

“…Based on recent literature, the Morbidity and Mortality Conference has been an essential tool in implementing these concepts. Kravet et al describe implementation of the ACGME competencies into resident education by integrating the M&M conference into Grand Rounds, whereas other general surgical literature describes models for direct implementation of the competencies into the M&M conference itself (2,4,12). Our study suggests that there is no standardized EM M&M format that addresses practice-based learning and improvement or systems-based practice, and the development of a format to incorporate the ACGME core competencies into EM M&M serves as a potential area for future educational research.…”

Increased Interactive Format for Morbidity & Mortality Conference Improves Educational Value and Enhances Confidence

“…A well-run M&M conference can provide an opportunity for fulfilling many of these competencies, especially the practice-based learning and improvement competency. [2][3][4] At an institutional level, M&M plays a major role in process improvement, assessment of results, as well as overall hospital quality assurance in resident educational programs. 2 The examination of complications is meant to highlight evidence-based and practical principles that can be employed in future instances to produce better practice and outcomes with a decreased likelihood of adverse events.…”