Students Seek More Information on Future of Osteopathic Profession

Thank you for a thoughtful and productive response. You make some good points, and this is a good productive conversation for us to have. My thoughts follow: Q: I read through the FAQ material and none of it addresses the issue of residencies that can't meet the ACGME requirements. A: Residencies that don’t meet ACGME requirements have until 2020 to make the changes necessary to meet the requirements. ACGME will not deny accreditation of a program based solely on program size. And the ACGME will charge one fee for the entire application process-which would include reapplication or assistance in reaching accreditation. Q: The requirements are not a simple checklist. Some of them demand costs that some residency programs in smaller communities and hospitals cannot meet ($6200 starting fee plus an annual $4,300 to $5,200 fee for ACGME vs. a one time $3,200 fee for AOA accredited residencies). A: The negotiations have addressed this and the fee schedule was modified for osteopathic GME programs. The fees are comparable, but not the same. If a program applies for preaccreditation, and then does not receive accreditation, they will not be charged for re-evaluation later on. So the cost structure is different. The AOA also has annual fees for OGME programs, based upon the number of residents per program. Q: Will ACGME give them a waiver? A: The ACGME fees are comparable to AOA fees. Waivers can be requested. Q: The one Q&A that should have addressed this issue only boasted the hypothesized benefits of the merger possibly increasing the number of residencies. A: Unification of GME is one step to make it easier for GME development. The unification process is not designed to increase program numbers, it is designed to make the system less formidable and more consistent so that GME development can occur. Getting hospitals to appreciate the value of GME and feel that the requirements to enter the world of GME will be less confusing

we need more info!

This is our future - we deserve to know what's going on!

Two things: I read through the FAQ material and none of it addresses the issue of residencies that can't meet the ACGME requirements. The requirements are not a simple check list. Some of them demand costs that some residency programs in smaller communities and hospitals cannot meet ($6200 starting fee plus an annual $4,300 to $5,200 fee for ACGME vs. a one time $3,200 fee for AOA accredited residencies). Will ACGME give them a waiver? The one Q&A that should have addressed this issue only boasted the hypothesized benefits of the merger possibly increasing the number of residencies. One of the FAQs is "How is the unification process’s impact on the osteopathic medical profession being predicted, monitored, and assessed?" The answer only addresses the monitoring of the unification. Where are all the predicted impact studies for us to read so we can fully comprehend the outcome of the merger? What are the costs? How are these things being assessed? Were any of the specialty colleges a part of the MOU discussion before the announcement of the merger? Have they been asked about the potential impact of the merger on their specialties? Are those issues being addressed?

It's easy to say that time will reduce discrimination but DOs have been around for too long for this excuse to hold any water. It is not too much to ask the ACGME to acknowledge this discrimination and take specific measures to curb it if they want to take over osteopathic GME.

I'm not against the merger, I simply don't understand and have not felt properly informed to the effects it will inevitably have on my prospects of applying as an Osteopathic, COMLEX-taking, medical student. These effects seem clear for Allopathic, USMLE-taking, medical students: more available residency spots. But the future for Osteopathic students is unclear at best, and bleak in the views of many of my classmates.

I beg to differ, I have found quite a bit of information on the subject both on the AOA and ACGME websites. This is a good place to start. http://www.osteopathic.org/inside-aoa/Pages/ACGME-single-accreditation-system.aspx

How will it be very bad? We don't have enough residency slots or fellowships for osteopathic trained students.

You bring up an interesting point "James". Personally, I find it disconcerting that "65 year old DOs" are negotiating a merger that affects our future without researching all of the possible implications or sharing all of the information with us. This petition does not seek to quash the merger, it requests due diligence through research and dissemination of information.

Chiropractor, dentist, hell even MDs do this. We are not as unique as our "forefathers" said we are. Get off the soap box with 100 year old principles and get in tune with evidence based medicine.

Time will heal most wounds, but I feel like this statement comes more from older, practicing DOs. From talking with my peers, we feel that older DOs worry more about discrimination, whereas our generation is more worried about getting AOA representatives that represent our needs, not that of the 65 year old DOs with chips on their shoulders.

Andrew Jensen, OMS-IV

Important!

"I applied mine heart to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, even of foolishness and madness" (Ecclesiates 7:25).

Good work Jie!

Keep It pure, boys, keep it pure"- AT Still

In agreement, clear info & oversight committee needed

There is no greater feeling than to heal someone merely by using your hands. Osteopathic medicine is the only discipline that offers this unique approach and should rightfully be preserved.

We need more information! Please make no decision in my interest without complete transparency!

We definitely need more information, and more time to formulate an opinion on this.