Graduate medical education consortia: expectations and experiences

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Workforce Policy
• Organizational Studies

Background:

• Graduate medical education (GME) consortia are formal associations for residency training, proposed to enhance structure and governance.
• These consortia are expected to help meet national physician workforce goals through coordination and resource allocation.
• Existing literature inadequately documents GME consortia's structure, function, and effectiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To contrast educators' and policymakers' expectations for GME consortia with their actual performance.
• To analyze the experiences of 36 functioning GME consortia based on a national survey.

Main Methods:

• A 1993 national survey was conducted by the Maine Medical Center and the Association of American Medical Colleges.
• The survey included 36 GME consortia, representing nearly 10% of training programs and 17% of residents nationwide.
• Data collected focused on consortia structures, functions, resource allocation, and perceived accomplishments.

Main Results:

• Participating consortia varied significantly in structure and function; most were convened by medical schools.
• Fewer than half had governing boards, 40% offered integrated programs per discipline, and 58% allocated resources.
• Only 31% reported success in increasing generalist physicians, despite this being a common concern.

Conclusions:

• GME consortia show potential but require enhanced commitment, leadership, and clearer definition of community needs.
• Improved resource allocation, funding transparency, and incentives for collective allegiance are crucial for consortium success.
• Further research and policy development are needed to optimize GME consortia for national workforce objectives.