Determination of Quality in Training Programs Based on Outcomes and Data

Measuring quality of surgical training programs is fundamental in recruitment, program improvement, and accreditation. There are several resources available that can provide useful data and information for programs, medical students, and preliminary residents to evaluate program quality. The purpose of this review is to summarize both public and private data.

Privately available data largely consist of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) resident and faculty surveys, Letter of Notification, and Case Log reports as well as the American Board of Surgery (ABS) In-Training Exam scores. Publicly available data include program accreditation status, and ABS Qualifying and Certifying Exam first-time pass rates. Medical students and preliminary residents can use resources such as social media platforms and internet-based sources to gain more information. Lastly, program leadership can drive innovation into their curricula utilizing platforms such as the Educational Quality Improvement Program (EQIP).

Increasing access to data is allowing educators to apply quality-improvement methodology to their training programs. Utilizing all available data will allow high-quality continuous improvement in the curricula development of surgical training programs.