Self-Study: Practical Tips for a Successful and Rewarding Experience

Strengthening the Clinical Learning Environment by Mandate-Implementing the ACGME Common Program Requirements

RATIONALE

Three years ago, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) introduced updated Common Program Requirements in recognition of the need to further promote resident and faculty member well-being and patient safety. The ACGME acknowledged residencies would need time to comply with new requirements. This grace period, however, concluded as of July 1, 2019, and programs now risk citations for failure to implement new requirements.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The authors, members of the Association of Program Directors in Radiology Common Program Requirements Ad Hoc committee, developed downloadable resources provided in the Appendix delineating the 2019 Common Program Requirements and offering sample resources as compliant solutions.

CONCLUSION

The resources offer a national standardized approach to educating trainees in these essential skills and should be especially helpful to programs with access to fewer resources. In addition to achieving compliance, incorporation of these resources into residency training will ensure the next generation of radiologists are equipped to add value while remaining physically and emotionally healthy.

Radiology Resident Journal Club: Enhancements Add Educational Value

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

Resident journal clubs are essential to develop skills to critically appraise existing literature. However, most reports of journal clubs focus on logistics of the activity and less on established roles of those involved. Our objective is to report on an innovative journal club from the perspective of key participants.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Journal club schedule, assignments, evaluations, and analysis are proffered from our institution. The journal club goals were formulated as: (1) improving resident understanding of research (biostatistical and epidemiologic) methods and statistical concepts, (2) teaching critical appraisal skills, and (3) promoting the use of evidence-based medicine. Each session's format is interactive, consisting of a 10 minute lecture with radiology examples of a research or statistical concept, followed by a journal club style discussion. Crucial to the success of this curriculum has been input and engagement of multiple parties: radiology residents, epidemiologist directors, and subspecialist clinician educator faculty members.

CONCLUSION

A well-thought out and well-run resident journal club offers numerous solutions to radiology residencies. To residency program leadership and to each individual resident annually, resident journal club offers cutting edge medical knowledge, interactive conferences in the formal didactic curriculum, resident training in critical thinking skills and research design, resident training in interpersonal and communication skills, opportunity for residents to be teachers, and expanded resident interprofessional education. It meets Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education common program, Residency Review Committee diagnostic radiology program, and American Board of Radiology Milestones requirements.

Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Self-Study for Pathology: One Institution's Experience and Lessons Learned

CONTEXT.—

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) established a new system for accreditation of residency and fellowship programs in 2013. One key aspect of the Next Accreditation System is the 10-year self-study, which requires programs to conduct a comprehensive self-evaluation, including development of program aims and analysis of strengths, weaknesses, and environmental context, in order to plan improvements and take the program to the next level.

OBJECTIVE.—

To provide a review of the recent changes and current state of ACGME accreditation, with a focus on the new 10-year self-study, and to share our institution's experience with conducting the first self-study of our pathology residency and accredited fellowship programs in 2018.

DATA SOURCES.—

Review of English-language literature, published resources from the ACGME, and materials/data from our department's 2018 self-study.

CONCLUSIONS.—

The self-study process now required for ACGME accreditation is a useful way to assess program strengths and weaknesses in the context of current environmental and institutional factors, and helps develop an effective framework for improvements geared at achieving program aims and taking the program to the next level. Additionally, conducting residency and fellowship self-studies together allows for collaboration, effective use of shared resources, and the development of a cohesive educational mission.