ACGME Accreditation of Orthopaedic Surgery Subspecialty Fellowship Training Programs

Abstract

Orthopaedic subspecialty fellowship programs are rapidly becoming a perceived necessity as part of orthopaedic surgery training. Fellowships continue to vary in matching system and their accreditation characteristics.

CORR ® Curriculum — Orthopaedic Education: Developing Safe, Independent Practitioners

“…In 2003, 76% of residents taking the ABOS Part II certifying examination reported having a fellowship. In 2013, that number increased to 90% [4,11]. Residents believe fellowships can enhance their marketability, and improve their job opportunities.…”

Is Subspecialty Fellowship Training Emerging as a Necessary Component of Contemporary Orthopaedic Surgery Education?

“…3,[5][6][7]9 Regardless of what the actual reasons are for the almost universal pursuit of additional fellowship training in orthopaedics, fellowship opportunities have now become more abundant than ever. In a recent investigation of orthopaedic surgery fellowships, 10 we identified 478 fellowship programs with a total of 897 fellowship positions (T A B L E 2). The number of fellowship positions offered in the orthopaedic subspecialty match programs thus exceeds the total number of positions offered in orthopaedic surgery residencies, which totals 692 allopathic and 100 osteopathic residency positions.…”

“…The propensity for Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accreditation for orthopaedic fellowships is variable, with the highest rates of ACGME accreditation in the subspecialties of hand surgery and sports medicine, which offer American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery Subspecialty Certificates that require completion of an accredited fellowship (T A B L E 2). 10 Currently, approximately 90% of orthopaedic fellowships across the nation are non-ACGMEapproved, although this group must still meet the demands of institutional GME requirements. Potential, yet unvalidated, benefits of ACGME accreditation include higher quality applicants, improved reputation, and more standardized training and the ability for fellowship graduates in hand and sports to obtain a subspecialty certificate.…”

Spine surgery training: is it time to consider categorical spine surgery residency?

“…However, trainees at programs with low-volume spine divisions, or who have decided to pursue spine training late in residency, may be poorly prepared for spine fellowship and may still be ill prepared for independent spine practice after a 1-year fellowship. Additionally, there is a lack of standardization for spine surgery fellowships [21], thus providing further variation in the training process.…”