PARO plays an active role in the national Accreditation process. All PGME training programs and Universities are required to meet national standards established by the RCPSC, the CFPC, and the Collège des médecins du Québec. Accreditation is the process used to ensure adherence to these standards, as well as to share best practices between programs, identify areas for development, and make continuous quality improvements. Accreditation also ensures that programs have the resources they need to deliver excellent training to their residents.
Residents have a crucial role in the accreditation process. As a current trainee in your program, you are know better than anyone what your program excels at – and you probably know where there’s room for improvement, too. This insider knowledge is why the Colleges rely so heavily on resident feedback during their on-site visits that take place every 8 years.
However, those on-site visits are only one piece of the puzzle. You’ve probably heard that accreditation only happens every eight years – but in fact, the accreditation process is continuous. During their review process, Colleges want to see how Programs have responded to feedback, addressed concerns raised by residents, and made improvements to training. The process does not focus on identifying problems, but rather on whether problems have been fixed effectively and appropriately once the program is aware of them.
Regardless of where your program is in the accreditation cycle, if there are elements of your program that you are concerned about, or that you think could be improved – whether that has to do with your working conditions, the quality of training, or the inter-personal dynamics within your program – it is crucial to identify it early. It can be daunting to start these conversations sometimes but, you don’t have to do it alone! Reach out to the PARO office for guidance on how to approach your program – all calls and emails are strictly confidential, so you can rest assured that nothing will be shared back with your program, university, or other residents without your permission.
If your University will be undergoing on-site Accreditation soon, you can expect to receive additional messages from PARO in the coming months to help you understand how the Accreditation process works, what your role is, and what to expect during an on-site visit. Accreditation is one of your biggest opportunities to improve your program, and PARO is here to help you make the most of this chance. Stay tuned for more information, and reach out any time with your questions