The 18th Annual Grandon Lecture

Each year for the past 18, we have sponsored a nationally prominent person in the broad field of health policy to come to Jefferson and deliver a talk on a timely topic. Past speakers have included persons such as John Iglehart, Peggy O'Kane, Jack Rowe, and others. This year, Dr Tom Nasca, the CEO of the ACGME in Chicago, delivered the address. He linked the work of the ACGME, the group that accredits every residency program in the nation, to the need for improved quality and safety in the delivery of health care. He demonstrated that professionalism today also means an awareness of these issues and an ability to allocate resources appropriately and furthermore, a deeper understanding of the "systems" nature of care. He also met with all of our residency program directors from our teaching hospital, nearly 80 individuals who represent almost 750 trainees across all disciplines, to discuss the challenges of accreditation such as limited duty hours and the like. Clearly, there are important links between accreditation, duty hours, professionalism and health care reform. We need to provide a health care work force ready to meet the challenges of a reformed system. The ACGME is a core component of meeting this challenge. What is your residency program doing to meet the challenges of health reform?? How are you working to promote accountability and a deeper understanding of the systems nature of care?? I am interested in your views, DAVID NASH