Surgery Programs on Probation

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gsurg24

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Can anyone shed some light on how to figure out why a program is on probation? The below links list which programs ARE on probation, but I can't figure out why:

Surgery programs on probation: https://apps.acgme.org/ads/Public/R...Year=2016&OrganizationTypeId=1&SpecialtyId=99

Institutions on probation: https://apps.acgme.org/ads/Public/R...Year=2016&OrganizationTypeId=2&SpecialtyId=99

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Can anyone shed some light on how to figure out why a program is on probation? The below links list which programs ARE on probation, but I can't figure out why:

Surgery programs on probation: https://apps.acgme.org/ads/Public/R...Year=2016&OrganizationTypeId=1&SpecialtyId=99

Institutions on probation: https://apps.acgme.org/ads/Public/R...Year=2016&OrganizationTypeId=2&SpecialtyId=99

probably the best way is to email the program and ask. i'm not sure if the acgme will give out that information. if you interview at one of the places on probation, they are required to inform you about the status of the program at which point you can ask more questions about specifics. would be kind of awkward to ask about it when you don't even have your foot in the door yet though.
 
I think most often it's because of board pass rates, which is why programs weight Step scores so heavily during the application process: USMLE scores are correlated with board scores, and if you're a bad test-taker then a school may risk its accreditation by accepting you into their program (as explained to me by one of my mentors; most programs just want to be sure you will pass your boards).

That means smaller programs are more vulnerable to probation: if you only have two chief residents, and one fails their first attempt, the program's pass rate for that year drops to 50%. (Also see: http://askskepticalscalpel.blogspot.com/2014/08/board-passage-rates-and-residency.html)


I know that Robert Packer/Guthrie is on probation due to low board pass rates (I was told this by the program director, who also commented on their revamped curriculum to help prepare students for success on the boards).

Work hour violations can also lead to probation, and I think if residents complain about supervision/quality of training/cultural climate of a program, that can lead to probation as well.

In general, from speaking with PDs, I've noticed that programs that are or have recently been on probation seem highly motivated to make positive changes, so that can be a real benefit to new residents. If a program has a specific and detailed plan of action (totally appropriate to ask about this in interviews), that would be very reassuring.
 
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