News Release

Joint education standards help GI, hepatology programs meet accreditation requirements

Peer-Reviewed Publication

American Gastroenterological Association

Bethesda, MD (June 30, 2014) — A team of representatives from five gastroenterology and hepatology societies have created a toolbox designed to help gastroenterology training directors meet the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Internal Medicine Subspecialty Reporting Milestones requirements while training fellows to independently care for patients. Thirteen core tasks, known as "entrustable professional activities," or EPAs, have been identified that define the work of gastroenterologists and hepatologists. A toolbox for each task includes, among other things, specific behavioral objectives related to knowledge, skills and attitudes; identification of the key reporting milestones needed to achieve mastery; and suggested assessments to gauge progress.

This toolbox is the creation of the Oversight Working Network (OWN), which is a committee made up of representatives from five societies — the AGA Institute, the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD), the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG), the American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society (ANMS) and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), receiving support from colleagues from the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (NASPGHAN) and the GI Program Directors Caucus.

The project was developed in response to the new twice-yearly reporting milestones requirement — a key component of the Next Accreditation System. This new outcomes-based accreditation system for graduate medical education programs takes affect for gastroenterology on July 1, 2014. Submission of the first reporting milestones report for GI fellowship training programs are due to ACGME between November and Dec. 31, 2014.

"The GI societies must ensure that the needs of our trainees, program directors and educators are being met in ways that best help them prepare for the practice of gastroenterology and hepatology," said Suzanne Rose, MD, MSEd, professor of medicine, senior associate dean for education, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, and lead author of the paper. "We respect the autonomy of GI fellowship programs and offer the new tools to help educators and trainees supplement their current approach while being able to meet the new requirements in the Next Accreditation System."

###

The white paper describing the project and approach, which was generated by the OWN Committee, is published in Gastroenterology, the official journal of the AGA Institute; Hepatology, the official journal of AASLD; Neurogastroenterology and Motility, the official journal of ANMS; and GIE: Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, the official journal of ASGE, as well as online by ACG. Additional feedback was provided by the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition. The full toolbox will be available on each journal's website and on the OWN website:

http://www.ownyourfellowship.org .

About the AGA Institute

The American Gastroenterological Association is the trusted voice of the GI community. Founded in 1897, the AGA has grown to include 17,000 members from around the globe who are involved in all aspects of the science, practice and advancement of gastroenterology. The AGA Institute administers the practice, research and educational programs of the organization. http://www.gastro.org.

About the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases

AASLD is the leading organization of scientists and healthcare professionals committed to preventing and curing liver disease. AASLD was founded in 1950 by a small group of leading liver specialists and has grown to an international society responsible for all aspects of hepatology. Information about AASLD is available at http://www.aasld.org.

About the American College of Gastroenterology

Founded in 1932, the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) is an organization with an international membership of more than 12,000 individuals from 80 countries. The College is committed to serving the clinically oriented digestive disease specialist through its emphasis on scholarly practice, teaching and research. The mission of the College is to serve the evolving needs of physicians in the delivery of high quality, scientifically sound, humanistic, ethical, and cost-effective health care to gastroenterology patients. http://www.gi.org.

About the American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society

Founded in 1980, The American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society (ANMS) is an organization dedicated to leading the field of neurogastroenterology by fostering excellence in multidisciplinary research, education, training, and patient care. Neurogastroenterology encompasses the study of central control, peripheral gut mechanisms, and brain-gut interactions with relevance to the understanding and management of gastrointestinal motor disorders and functional gastrointestinal disorders.

About the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy

Since its founding in 1941, the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) has been dedicated to advancing patient care and digestive health by promoting excellence and innovation in gastrointestinal endoscopy. ASGE, with more than 12,000 members worldwide, promotes the highest standards for endoscopic training and practice, fosters endoscopic research, recognizes distinguished contributions to endoscopy, and is the foremost resource for endoscopic education. Visit http://www.asge.org and http://www.screen4coloncancer.org for more information and to find a qualified doctor in your area.


Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.