Survey of the Child Neurology Program Coordinator Association: Workforce Issues and Readiness for the Next Accreditation System

Abstract

In preparation for the implementation of the Next Accreditation System in Child Neurology, the authors organized the first meeting of child neurology program coordinators in October 2014. A workforce and program-readiness survey was conducted initially. Coordinator job titles varied widely. Most respondents (65%) managed 1 or more fellowships plus child neurology residency. Most had worked in graduate medical education less than 5 years (53%), with no career path (88%), supervised by someone without graduate medical education experience (85%), in divisions where faculty knowledge was judged inadequate (72%). A small proportion of programs had established clinical competency committee policies (28%) and was ready to implement milestone-based evaluations (56%). A post-conference survey demonstrated substantial improvements in relevant skills. The complexity of residency program management in the Next Accreditation System era supports substantive modifications to the program coordinator role. Such changes should include defined career pathway, managerial classification, administrative support, and continuing education.

Providing Graduate Medical Education Orientation to Program Coordinators: A National Survey and Analysis

“…Few studies have evaluated the role of training for a PC. Feist and colleagues 6 found that most childneurology PCs had limited experience (, 5 years) and were supervised by someone without GME experience. These results are important as Nickel and colleagues 5 found that most PCs perform tasks and take on responsibilities beyond what is listed in their job description.…”

“…3 There are only a few studies that outline the optimal form and content for the successful training of specialty-specific PCs. [4][5][6][7][8][9] Current practice for the onboarding of PCs involves an orientation about their duties and expectations from the GME office at their specific institutions (GME training). Occasionally, new PCs may receive direction and assistance from their peers in a one-on-one setting prior to assuming the responsibilities of the position (peer training).…”

A Survey of Neurosurgery Residency Program Coordinators: Their Roles, Responsibilities, and Perceived Value

“…Neurosurgery residency program coordinators play an important role in the organization and function of residency and fellowship programs. In addition to managing the daily operation of these programs, coordinators must manage Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) requirements for program accreditation in direct coordination with the program director(s), department chair, and other department staff [1-3]. First formalized in 2008, the Society of Neurosurgical Surgeons Coordinator’s Group grew out of the increasingly formalized ACGME requirements for neurosurgery departments.…”

“…Currently, there are several established Graduate Medical Education (GME) and ACGME requirements and guidelines for program coordinators, but except for the requirement that there must be a program coordinator with at least 50% of his or her time dedicated to the residency program, these are not consistent across specialties [1,3,8]. The only specified ACGME requirement for neurosurgical program coordinators states, “There should be a full-time designated program coordinator with financial support from the sponsoring institution” [9].…”

“…Despite the complex responsibilities of program coordinators, surveys among coordinators in other medical fields have shown that training for the position from institutions and departments is often not sufficient [1-2]. The aim of this survey was to evaluate the experience, training, responsibilities, and contribution of neurosurgery residency program coordinators.…”