Impact of the Liaison Committee on Medical Education requirements for emergency medicine education at U.S. schools of medicine.

The Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) accredits complete and independent medical education programs leading to the MD degree. The LCME standards for accreditation are described in the online document "Functions and Structure of a Medical School." There are ongoing minor and major changes to these standards. This article examines how the newest LCME requirements may affect emergency medicine (EM) rotations. The descriptions focus on 1) how the LCME requirements affect EM educational activities and 2) how the department of EM can help the school of medicine meet the LCME requirements. The recommendations focus on the general areas of the instructional setting, components of the educational program, resources for medical students, and faculty development. The department of EM can provide the students at the school of medicine with a number of key experiences and opportunities through its educational offerings and graduate medical education programs that will help satisfy the LCME standards. The new LCME standards will also have a significant impact on the way EM educators/clerkship directors develop curricula, assess students, provide feedback, and develop their own faculty/residents as teachers. The leadership of EM should recognize their increasingly important role within the school of medicine and be sensitive to additional requirements for faculty development and scholarship.