Acknowledgement includes assignment of a program number, access to the ACGME’s Accreditation Data System (ADS), and participation in the collection of applicable outcome data. It is important to note that acknowledgment of a program is not the same as ACGME accreditation. The ACGME does not accredit combined programs with the exception of the combined specialty of internal medicine/pediatrics. The process outlined below is for un-accredited combined programs only.
Acknowledgement Process
- An ACGME-accredited Sponsoring Institution must be willing to sponsor an un-accredited combined program.
- ACGME-accredited programs in the specialties represented in the combined program must exist at the same Sponsoring Institution as the combined program.
- A program director must be appointed for the combined program.
- A curriculum must be developed for the combined program.
- The designated institutional official (DIO) should contact the applicable AOA certifying boards, American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) member boards, or both certifying boards to determine what is required when a program seeks to have its curriculum approved so that graduates are eligible for board certification. A combined program may seek approval by only the applicable ABMS member boards or AOA certifying boards, though combined programs are encouraged to have approval from all applicable ABMS or AOA certifying boards.
- The DIO must formally contact the applicable certifying boards and request that the combined program be approved by the boards, so that residents of the program will be board-eligible upon completion. The program must receive a letter from each of the applicable certifying boards, outlining their board eligibility.
- The DIO must e-mail the board approval letters to ADS@acgme.org and request that the combined program be assigned a program number and granted access to ADS. An ADS representative will e-mail the program a short “ADS Combined Non-Accredited Program Application” to complete and return.
- The DIO must return the completed application form by e-mail to ADS@acgme.org. Once it is received, an ADS account will be created, a 10-digit ACGME code will be assigned, and login information will be sent to the program director. The program will also be acknowledged as an un-accredited program on the ACGME website through program reports and searches.
ADS Combined Program Maintenance
- Once an ADS account has been created, the program director must enter faculty member and resident information. A co-director and coordinator may also be added.
- Residents in the combined program should not be entered under the individual core(s) program number/ADS account, even during periods when they are completing core requirements.
- Residents and faculty members in the combined program will receive annual surveys that can be used by the Sponsoring Institution in its review of programs.
- Residents may participate in submission of case logs, as applicable, depending on the specialty.
- Milestones assessments will be expected for the residents.
Core Program Instructions
Each core program must include .5 of a resident for each combined resident in its total complement. For example, the individually accredited pediatrics and medical genetics and genomics (MGG) programs associated with a combined Peds-MGG program with six residents must each include three residents in each of their complements. The core programs may use existing positions, if available. The core programs’ total filled resident positions plus combined positions (0.5 per combined resident) should not exceed the total approved resident complement. If exceeded, the core program will need to request a complement increase. Combined programs do not have their own approved complements since a Review Committee does not review them for accreditation.