Current Attitudes Toward the ACGME and Its Role: Perspectives of a National Multi-Specialty Panel of Residents and Fellows.

BACKGROUND: Resident attitudes toward the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) likely influence the ACGME's effectiveness in its role of ensuring compliance with its requirements. Beyond perceptions of duty hour limits and their enforcement, there is a lack of data on resident perceptions of the ACGME and its role.
OBJECTIVE: We explored resident attitudes toward the ACGME and developed recommendations for improved outreach to the resident community to improve perceptions.
METHODS: A multi-specialty, nationally representative group of residents and fellows conducted a 3-part structured exercise that (1) described current trainee impressions of the ACGME; (2) evaluated the value of the ACGME engaging residents; and (3) recommended ways to improve communication between the ACGME and residents.
RESULTS: Most residents are only vaguely familiar with the role of the ACGME and generally have a negative impression regarding ACGME accreditation functions. This contrasts with the attitudes of the residents more closely involved with the ACGME through its Review Committees. There is value in engaging residents in the mission of the ACGME, and outreach efforts across multiple modalities could more closely align ACGME values and resident impressions of the organization and its role.
CONCLUSIONS: A multifaceted effort to engage residents in the mission and goals of the ACGME would augment both ACGME and trainee efforts to improve graduate medical education.