Regional medical campuses: a new classification system

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Workforce Development

Background:

• Regional medical campuses (RMCs) are increasingly prevalent in US and Canadian medical education.
• Their growth, driven by class expansion, necessitates a clearer understanding of their distinct functions, particularly in rural and community medicine.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a standardized classification system for regional medical campuses.
• To address the current lack of research on RMCs due to the absence of a defined classification.

Main Methods:

• The Group on Regional Medical Campuses developed attributes to classify distinct RMCs.
• A four-model system (basic science, clinical, longitudinal, combined) was created, aligned with Liaison Committee on Medical Education standards.

Main Results:

• A new classification system for regional medical campuses has been established.
• This system provides a framework applicable to all medical schools.

Conclusions:

• The developed classification system enables a common understanding and denominator for RMCs.
• This facilitates future research into the impact of RMCs on medical education and the healthcare workforce.