Why did the ACGME choose to concentrate on outcomes now?
A2: In a sense, the ACGME is “playing catch up” to other accrediting bodies in the health professions, education, and business that have focused on educational outcomes since the 1980s. At that time, the U.S. Department of Education mandated a movement aimed at making greater use of outcome assessment in accreditation. As a result, efforts were begun by these organizations to expand their use of outcome measures in accreditation. In addition, since the U.S. system of medical education depends heavily on public funding, medical educators are called upon to offer evidence of their responsible stewardship in preparing competent physicians to meet the health care needs of the public that supports their efforts. The ability to demonstrate educational outcomes as the achievement of competency-based learning objectives provides just such evidence.
