Brigham 2 year cycle?

[wildcatfan27]

---

Members do not see this ad.

Long time lurker, first time posting. I really liked the Brigham, but why would such a great program only have a 2 out of 5 year accreditation cycle? I really wished I asked the PD when I interviewed there. I was wondering if any knows more about this? Is a 2 year cycle that bad?


Brigham and Women's Hospital Program [0402421066]
Last Site Visit Date: August 17, 2011
Cycle Length: 2 years
Approximate Date of Next Site Visit: October 1, 2013

http://www.acgme.org/adspublic/

 

[beepbloop]

Long time lurker, first time posting. I really liked the Brigham, but why would such a great program only have a 2 out of 5 year accreditation cycle? I really wished I asked the PD when I interviewed there. I was wondering if any knows more about this? Is a 2 year cycle that bad?


Brigham and Women's Hospital Program [0402421066]
Last Site Visit Date: August 17, 2011
Cycle Length: 2 years
Approximate Date of Next Site Visit: October 1, 2013

http://www.acgme.org/adspublic/

So this may or may not be helpful, but I asked Dr. Lekowski during my interview and he was pretty up front. I can't remember all of the details, but I believe it may have had something to do with the way that residents were evaluated (i.e. long feedback time, no standardized way of being evaluated). I distinctly remember NOT being freaked out, it seems that they kind of got a bum rap during that RRC visit.

Either way, Brigham is a fantastic program and I imagine that this is probably not something to be concerned about. Anybody else with more extensive knowledge care to comment?

 

[deleted9493]

I would NOT let this bother you as an applicant. The things that can result in a 2 year cycle are from a resident's perspective, often absurd. Yes, it is good to ask the program what their citations were but seriously--they are most often matters that are really irrelevant to life as a resident.

You can find any number of programs that will offer you a marginal residency experience but have 5 year cycles. Equally, there are certainly programs that are 'gems' for residency and you'll risk missing the boat on them if you let a shorter cycle length bother you. I don't know anyone at Brigham but this does serve as a good example of the divorce between what residents actually get at a program and what the RRC views as shortcomings. I have no doubt that Brigham will continue to produce excellent clinicians, regardless of what label the RRC slaps on them. The things that you care about as an applicant are very rarely the things that programs get dinged for, in my experience.

 

[Creed Bratton]

Talked to some friends I have there, it was all paperwork BS which is what most of the accredidation process is. Had something to do with the evaluation system for residents as well as the "oversight" the program had over interns at other programs. I guess they didn't have quarterly summative letters from all the intern's PDs before they got to the Brigham. Do applicants actually judge programs now by the accredidation length? If only you people know what meant into that process...

 

[Idiopathic]

we are going to routinely see the 5 -> 2 -> 5 review cycle from now on. they show up in 5 years, find fault (as they could with every program), and then give you two years to fix the issues. assuming you do (most programs will) you get back to 5 years. i wouldnt worry about it, especially not with a top 20 program. we went through this a few years ago, saw some dramatic improvements in the residency, and got back to 5 years. some people would view it as a good thing.

 

[beardpapa]

Brigham is easily a top 5 program in my opinion. Anyone would be fortunate to have the Brigham name driving the rest of their career after residency. I've heard similar things about their 2 year cycle and would not let it bother me one bit. Good luck all.

 

[pgg]

Do applicants actually judge programs now by the accredidation length?

It certainly merits a question and explanation.


I was pretty thoroughly impressed with Brigham when I rotated through there a few years ago.

 

[DScully]

I think the same thing happened to either MGH or Hopkins or some other big name programs when I was interviewing....I do think it deserve some explanation and some improvement from the administrative perspective but personally I wouldn't put too much weight if you are talking about top programs.

People are going to remember that you are the guy from Brigham/MGH/Hopkins/whatever, and not you are the guy whose residency program only gets two year cycle.