Starting a new residency program: a step-by-step guide for institutions, hospitals, and program directors

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Healthcare Workforce Development
• Pediatric Residency Training

Background:

• Existing residency programs face limitations in space, funding, and patient volume, restricting training opportunities for medical graduates.
• A growing shortage of physicians necessitates the creation of new graduate medical education (GME) training positions.
• Collaborations between academic institutions and community hospitals offer a viable solution for expanding GME.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide a comprehensive, step-by-step guide for establishing new residency programs.
• To share the successful process of developing and accrediting a new pediatric residency program.
• To encourage the expansion of graduate medical training positions nationwide.

Main Methods:

• Forming a partnership between an academic institution (Baylor College of Medicine) and a community hospital (The Children's Hospital of San Antonio).
• Developing the necessary infrastructure, curriculum, and educational framework for a new residency program.
• Navigating the accreditation process, marketing, and recruitment for the program.

Main Results:

• Successful accreditation of a new categorical pediatric residency program in 2014.
• Demonstration of a replicable model for establishing new GME programs through inter-institutional collaboration.
• Creation of additional training positions to help alleviate physician shortages.

Conclusions:

• Partnerships between academic medical centers and community hospitals are effective for creating new residency programs.
• A structured approach encompassing infrastructure, education, accreditation, and recruitment is crucial for program establishment.
• Sharing this process can facilitate the growth of GME and address critical physician workforce needs.