an editorial on the future of accreditation in caricom nations

[azskeptic]

I urge all potential medical students who are thinking of going to medical schools in the following countries to be sure that the schools are accredited by the new agency CAAM under the CARICOM authority
Antigua & Barbuda (AG)
Bahamas (**)
Barbados (BB)
Belize (BZ)
Dominica (DM)
Grenada (GD)
Guyana (GY)
Haiti (HT)
Jamaica (JM)
Montserrat (MS)
St. Kitts & Nevis (KN)
Saint Lucia (LC)
St. Vincent & The Grenadines (VC)
Suriname (SR)
Trinidad & Tobago (TT)
You can review their website at: www.caam-hp.org (http://www.google.com/url?sa=D&q=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.caam-hp.org) State/provinces and foreign govt. medical agencies should follow closely the progress this agency makes because it will help change the face of education. The standards that this agency has set will not allow diploma mills or poorly equipped schools to be approved.
(http://rs6.net/tn.jsp?t=uhvq5sbab.0.0.bexdopbab.0&p=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.caam-hp.org)

[jpryor]

Reading their web site raises these questions (not that I expect an answer...but if known...):

1. It appears that a site review takes at least a year's preparation before it is conducted and then months to complete the report. As it stands, there are only a couple of schools (UWI and SGU)scheduled receive on site reviews. It doesn't indicate on the web site if any other schools have expressed interest or, if they have, which ones are 'in-line'.

2. CARICOM name-drops the GMC and LCME, but who is going to quality assure this commission?

3. What is the official stance of the medical boards for California, Texas, New York and Florida on CARICOM? Have they reviewed the criteria, in agreement with the criteria, accepting the decision of CARICOM?

4. What happens if SMU applies for accreditation through CARICOM and is accredited, yet California still does not approve the school?

I know the FSMB has endorsed the intent of CARICOM, which I suspect most of us do, too. But I think many of us are wary, too.

[azskeptic]

Reading their web site raises these questions (not that I expect an answer...but if known...):

1. It appears that a site review takes at least a year's preparation before it is conducted and then months to complete the report. As it stands, there are only a couple of schools (UWI and SGU)scheduled receive on site reviews. It doesn't indicate on the web site if any other schools have expressed interest or, if they have, which ones are 'in-line'.

2. CARICOM name-drops the GMC and LCME, but who is going to quality assure this commission?

3. What is the official stance of the medical boards for California, Texas, New York and Florida on CARICOM? Have they reviewed the criteria, in agreement with the criteria, accepting the decision of CARICOM?

4. What happens if SMU applies for accreditation through CARICOM and is accredited, yet California still does not approve the school?

I know the FSMB has endorsed the intent of CARICOM, which I suspect most of us do, too. But I think many of us are wary, too. State agencies will watch the progress of this govt mandated accreditation process. The secretary of CAAM will be speaking in Boston and will begin the process of trust building I imagine. Unless the FSMB signs some sort of agreement I would think each state individually will have to decide if they accept CAAM's approvals as good enough for them. A similiar project is occurring in the Dutch/French sections of the Carib. and I'll report on it shortly.

[jpryor]

If CAAM accredits school X and school Y, would it mean that each school has to accept the credits of the other for transfer students?

[azskeptic]

If CAAM accredits school X and school Y, would it mean that each school has to accept the credits of the other for transfer students? wouldn't think so...it isn't like that in the US either,eh?

[jpryor]

wouldn't think so...it isn't like that in the US either,eh?

I may be wrong, but I thought that it was now that most states have gone to university systems as opposed to independent schools.

I think it would be hard to argue against accepting each school's credits--that would be creating an argument against the accreditation process itself, I would think.

But that's just me having random thoughts about this project.

[wcb22]

i called CAAM yesterday after seeing this post. if you read through the 40 pages of accredidation process, some requirements seem pretty stringent. i asked about the time frame to become accredited, and they said there would be a compliance period (i don't know how long that would be). UWI is the first to undergo the evaluation, in late march i believe. they said each school will be evaluated for 1-2 weeks. they had no timeline for which schools and when, however.

the intent of this body, per my understanding, was not primarily about finding an accredidation process to accredit caribbean med schools FOR THE FSMB. the university of the west indies (est 1948) is no longer being accredited by the UK, as it has been for many years. i think the UWI is trying to take the initiative and start their own accrediting body for this region, maybe along with SGU.

if i remember correctly, a while back there were 7 or 8 states who were for such an organization (Ohio, virgina?, others), but because this accredidation process is taking so long, i haven't heard of anything since. i do know that each state has the autonomy to decide what "accredidation" process they will follow. no doubt, a school that is approved by CAAM/Caricom, still may not be able to get licensure in CA, TX or whatever. some states may take CAAMs recommendations as gold (especially if they start to gain respect in their accredidation process), or take it as a grain of salt (i.e., CA).

i expect that CAAM will approve of more schools than CA will, just a hunch, which is why CA wouldn't follow their list to the T.

[jpryor]

Although it is bothersome to have this CARICOM aligned with UWI, I think it is a step in the right direction. It readily acknowledges using the GMC guidelines (which is logical given that relationship). What I did find particularly bothersome was the statement that it's reports would be confidential. That can only breed distrust.

[Aviv Imanuel]

It may come across as tainted by a conflict of interest and competition issues HOWEVER someone has to take the initiative and in this case it was UWI and you have to give it to them, it is a brilliant idea.

Although it is bothersome to have this CARICOM aligned with UWI, I think it is a step in the right direction. It readily acknowledges using the GMC guidelines (which is logical given that relationship). What I did find particularly bothersome was the statement that it's reports would be confidential. That can only breed distrust.

[azskeptic]

i called CAAM yesterday after seeing this post. if you read through the 40 pages of accredidation process, some requirements seem pretty stringent. i asked about the time frame to become accredited, and they said there would be a compliance period (i don't know how long that would be). UWI is the first to undergo the evaluation, in late march i believe. they said each school will be evaluated for 1-2 weeks. they had no timeline for which schools and when, however.

the intent of this body, per my understanding, was not primarily about finding an accredidation process to accredit caribbean med schools FOR THE FSMB. the university of the west indies (est 1948) is no longer being accredited by the UK, as it has been for many years. i think the UWI is trying to take the initiative and start their own accrediting body for this region, maybe along with SGU.

if i remember correctly, a while back there were 7 or 8 states who were for such an organization (Ohio, virgina?, others), but because this accredidation process is taking so long, i haven't heard of anything since. i do know that each state has the autonomy to decide what "accredidation" process they will follow. no doubt, a school that is approved by CAAM/Caricom, still may not be able to get licensure in CA, TX or whatever. some states may take CAAMs recommendations as gold (especially if they start to gain respect in their accredidation process), or take it as a grain of salt (i.e., CA).

i expect that CAAM will approve of more schools than CA will, just a hunch, which is why CA wouldn't follow their list to the T. UWI and a group of others put it together but it is a govt. agency for CARICOM, not UWI. My guess is that the jury is still out---but CAAM's mission and methods (using LCME-Canada evaluators/UK evaluators plus a local evaluator) will help them win admiration from state boards quickly. This is important for the economic health of the islands who have schools. i am told something similiar is brewing for the dutch/french islands also which aren't part of CAAM and some of them have even called CAAM about participating.

[jpryor]

We've had these discussions before and I think most of us are in agreement that this is a good thing provided it is executed fairly. It appears to be transparent so far, yet I do question the rationale for the decision to keep their reports confidential. That would seem to be the heart and essence of this endeavor.

[Scott1981]

i really like the idea of using lcme evaluators.

[utorontograd]

Can anyone provide feedback on what evaluation organizations are reporting transparantly, as a point of comparison? Be they, North American, international or whatever.