Accreditation Visit a Chance to Showcase Transformation

The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health will have a unique opportunity to shine a spotlight on its transformation when the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) comes to campus for an official site visit November 15-18.

The LCME, the official accrediting body for all United States and Canadian medical schools, assesses each school seeking accreditation every seven years. The process determines whether an institution meets the highest standards of function, structure and performance.

"We look forward to this coming site visit so we can showcase our revolutionary model that unites public health and medicine," says Robert N. Golden, MD, dean of the school. "We believe that this innovative integrated approach addresses the evolving health and healthcare needs of the people of Wisconsin better than any other."

The accreditation process outlined in the LCME self-study guide is very specific and requires the involvement of dozens of people, explains School of Medicine and Public Health associate dean for students Patrick McBride, MD '80, MPH, who heads the steering committee.

"A detailed self-assessment is the first step," says McBride. "In January, we created five self-study subcommittees that have now gathered and analyzed data clarifying our school's strengths and challenges."

The five committees dealt with institutional setting, the educational program leading to the MD degree, medical students, faculty, resources, and required courses and clerkships.

"More than 124 basic and clinical science faculty, medical students, staff, alumni and administrators from the school, UW Hospital and Clinics, UW Medical Foundation and UW-Madison participated on the subcommittees," notes McBride.

As required by the LCME, the student subcommittee, composed only of medical students, created and distributed a questionnaire, and analyzed and presented their findings in a separate report.

The steering committee then synthesized the subcommittee reports into a comprehensive assessment that addresses questions in the self-study guide and focuses on noteworthy accomplishments and challenges. The subcommittees also made recommendations for addressing potential problematic areas where noncompliance with accreditation standards could occur.

From these multiple analyses, a final summary report was written and has been submitted to the LCME with other requested information.

Once the LCME team arrives for the site visit, says McBride, it will meet with faculty, students, department chairs, course directors and administrators to review and discuss further the institutional self-study.

"I am confident we will be successful," says McBride.

In March 2003, following its last visit to the School of Medicine and Public Health, the LCME granted the school full accreditation for eight years, the maximum time awarded. Of 125 LCME standards, the school fell short in only four areas: facilities, career counseling, self-directed learning and the learning environment.

"We have worked hard to address these concerns," McBride says.

The LCME process is time- and labor-intensive, says Golden, but it is very helpful.

"It is an opportunity to evaluate and reconfirm our core values, assess our progress and receive consultative input from our colleagues serving on LCME," he says.

By Dian Land

This article appears in the fall 2009 issue of Quarterly.