September 2012
This Month's News
Help the AMA shape its strategy to accelerate change in medical education
Pending bill would increase GME slots, but at what cost?
Paging Dr. Outgoing? New med school applicant process favors extroverts
Register for "Health Care in Transition," Sept. 14 in Oklahoma City
Special Feature
Help the AMA shape its strategy to accelerate change in medical education
As described in our July issue, the AMA is embarking on a new strategic plan that includes a focus on accelerating change in medical education. As part of this work, the AMA will establish partnerships with select medical schools and health care systems to develop innovations supporting new, flexible and outcomes-based education across the continuum.
As we seek to hone our work in this regard, we are requesting broad input from key stakeholders on the following four questions:
- What are the gaps in how professionalism is being taught?
- What are some of the innovative technologies that are being used (and could be used) in medical education?
- How do we move from a time-based to a competency-based, flexible system of medical education?
- What are the key competencies that future physicians will need (and the current gaps in those competencies)? For example, systems-based practice, health care systems, health care financing, stewardship and interdisciplinary team-based care.
Please log in to our online discussion forum to enter your responses.
We are soliciting feedback from a wide range of AMA groups, including the Council on Medical Education, Section on Medical Schools, Medical Student Section and Resident and Fellow Section. Your comments also will help inform our work and ensure that our energy and resources are directed toward the most critical areas. Selected responses will be highlighted in a future issue.
Also, check out a new 90-second video to learn how the AMA's work is leading medicine to a future that's better for patients, physicians and the nation.
Note: If you prefer, you can also email your thoughts rather than posting them on the discussion forum.
In related news, a recent white paper from the American Hospital Association finds that new physicians are most lacking in such competencies as communicating effectively, working collaboratively with a health care team and providing cost-conscious, effective medical care in a system-based practice.
The white paper advises restructuring medical school curriculum to move foundational science courses to the college level and refocus medical school coursework on teamwork, quality improvement, innovation and safety.
