Wednesday, Sept. 5, 2012
For Residents
GME review under way as committee has first meeting
A new committee charged with reviewing the nation's graduate medical education (GME) system and making recommendations on how to better produce a medical workforce for the 21st century is taking its first steps this week with a two-day meeting in Washington, D.C.
The committee is tasked with reviewing the current number of residents and GME slots against the number needed to address such issues as the nation's aging and increasingly diverse patient population, the growing prevalence of disability and chronic disease, and new health care innovations. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) convened the committee at the request of a bipartisan group of U.S. senators.
The committee's recommendations are not expected to be released until sometime near the end of next year. The group is beginning its work as legislation that would increase the number of residency slots has been introduced in both the U.S. House and the Senate. Read more in American Medical News.
Study suggests athletes may make for better residents
What objective factors might help indicate a resident's potential? It's a question posed by authors of a recent study published in the Archives of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, and their answers may be surprising.
Faculty were asked to rate the clinical quality of 46 consecutive graduates from Washington University's Department of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery program between 2001 and 2010. These ratings were then compared against a number of applicant measures.
Interestingly, the only significantly correlated finding was between faculty rating and excellence in athletics, specifically in a team sport. The authors surmise that the applicants' abilities to work on a team benefitted them in the operating room, another environment where cooperation is essential.
Also of note, there was no significant correlation between faculty ratings and United States Medical Licensing Examination scores, Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society election status, percentage of honors in medical school clinical rotations, letters of recommendation, having been an acting intern at the institution and excellence in music.
The Archives of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery is one of various journals that are part of the JAMA Network. Access to these journals is just one of the many benefits of AMA membership. If you're not a member, join today.
