LCME adopts new accreditation standards for medical schools

LCME adopts new accreditation standards for medical schools

After receiving comments from sponsoring organizations and hosting discussion at a public hearing, the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) has officially adopted three new accreditation standards. The standards focus on opportunities for medical students to participate in service learning activities, maintenance of a learning environment that supports the development of professional attributes, and learning about basic principles of clinical and translational research. In response to feedback at the public hearing, the LCME agreed to modify the draft language that supplements the new clinical and translational research standard. All new standards will take effect on July 1, 2008.

The LCME also commended modifications to three existing standards that address use of institutional objectives for the educational program, the statement of such objectives in outcomes-based terms related to physician competencies, and criteria for student clinical learning experiences. Because these revisions do not require additional documentation requirements for schools, they will take effect immediately. For more information, please visit the following website: http://www.lcme.org/standard.htm.

Source: Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) STAT e-newsletter 3/12/2007