Specific Standards of Accreditation for Residency
Programs in Obstetrics and Gynecology
2016
VERSION 1.0
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this document is to provide program directors and
interpretation of the general standards of accreditation as they relate to
programs in Obstetrics and Gynecology. This document should be read
the General Standards of Accreditation, the Objectives of Training,
Training Requirements in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
surveyors with an
the accreditation of
in conjunction with
and the Specialty
STANDARD B1: ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE
There must be an appropriate administrative structure for each residency
program.
Please refer to Standard B1 in the General Standards of Accreditation for the interpretation
of this standard. The program director must have Royal College certification in Obstetrics
and Gynecology. In addition, the program director in Obstetrics and Gynecology, or
designate, must be a member of the Surgical Foundations curriculum committee of the
university.
STANDARD B2: GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
There must be a clearly worded statement outlining the goals of the residency
program and the educational objectives of the residents.
The general goals and objectives for Obstetrics and Gynecology are outlined in the
Objectives of Training, and the Specialty Training Requirements in Obstetrics and
Gynecology. Based upon these general objectives, each program must develop rotation
specific objectives, suitable for that particular program, as noted in Standard B2 of the
General Standards of Accreditation.
STANDARD B3: STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION OF THE PROGRAM
There must be an organized program of rotations and other educational
experiences, both mandatory and elective, designed to provide each resident with
the opportunity to fulfil the educational requirements and achieve competence in
the specialty.
The structure and organization of each accredited program in Obstetrics and Gynecology
must be consistent with the specialty training requirements as outlined in the Specialty
Training Requirements in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
© 2015 The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. All rights reserved.
This document may be reproduced for educational purposes only, provided that the following phrase is included in all related materials: Copyright © 2015 The Royal College of
Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Referenced and produced with permission. Please forward a copy of the final product to the Office of Specialty Education, attn: Associate Director,
Specialties. Written permission from the Royal College is required for all other uses. For further information regarding intellectual property, please contact: documents@royalcollege.ca.
For questions regarding the use of this document, please contact: accred@royalcollege.ca.
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SPECIFIC STANDARDS OF ACCREDITATION FOR RESIDENCY PROGRAMS
IN OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY (2016)
Residents must be provided with increasing individual professional responsibility, under
appropriate supervision, appropriate to their level of training, ability, and experience.
There must be a senior residency experience in Obstetrics and in Gynecology in the PGY5 or
PGY4 of the program. Refer to Specialty Training Requirements in Obstetrics and
Gynecology.
In addition to offering the components noted in the specialty training requirements, all
accredited programs in Obstetrics and Gynecology must offer community-based learning
experience outside the academic learning centre.
STANDARD B4: RESOURCES
There must be sufficient resources, including teaching faculty, the number and
variety of patients, physical and technical resources, and supporting facilities and
services, necessary to provide the opportunity for all residents in the program to
achieve the educational objectives and receive full training as defined by the Royal
College specialty training requirements.
In those cases where a university has sufficient resources to provide most of the training in
Obstetrics and Gynecology but lacks one or more essential elements, the program may still
be accredited provided that formal arrangements have been made to send residents to
another accredited residency program for periods of appropriate prescribed training.
Learning environments must include experiences that facilitate the acquisition of knowledge,
skills, and attitudes relating to aspects of age, gender, sexual orientation, culture, and
ethnicity appropriate to Obstetrics and Gynecology.
1.
Teaching Faculty
There must be a sufficient number of qualified and dedicated teaching staff to supervise
residents at all levels and in all aspects of Obstetrics and Gynecology, and provide teaching
in the basic and clinical sciences related to the specialty.
There must be appropriately qualified individuals available to adequately direct subspecialty
education in Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Gynecologic Oncology, and Gynecologic Reproductive
Endocrinology and Infertility.
There should be a qualified Neonatologist to direct the subspecialty education in
neonatology.
There must be individuals within the department who conduct clinical and/or basic research
and there must be a faculty member whose responsibility it is to facilitate the involvement
of residents in research and other scholarly work.
2.
Number and Variety of Patients
There must be a sufficient number and variety of patients available to the program to
provide each resident registered in the program with the opportunity to meet the specific
objectives detailed below.
© 2015 The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. All rights reserved.
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SPECIFIC STANDARDS OF ACCREDITATION FOR RESIDENCY PROGRAMS
IN OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY (2016)
a.
Obstetrics
i.
Assume, under appropriate supervision, major responsibility for normal and
complicated obstetrics and to take an active part in providing consultative services.
ii. Obtain adequate experience in obstetric procedures, per the Objectives of Training
Requirements.
iii. Obtain adequate experience in the prevention, identification, assessment, and
management of high risk obstetrical problems.
iv. Gain experience in fetal resuscitation, stabilization, and followup of the newborn.
b.
Gynecology
i.
Assume, under appropriate supervision, major responsibility for patients with
gynecologic problems.
ii. Obtain technical experience in major and minor gynecological surgical procedures,
per the Objectives of Training Requirements.
iii. Develop appropriate skills in the diagnosis, prevention, and management of
gynecological cancer, including the respective roles of surgery, radiotherapy, and
chemotherapy. Assignments to cancer treatment units or clinics should be assured.
iv. Develop appropriate skills in the management of patients with gynecological
endocrine/infertility disorders.
3.
Organization of Clinical Services specific to Obstetrics and Gynecology
a.
Inpatient Services
Obstetrics and gynecology teaching services participating in the program must have
adequate numbers of patients available for teaching and an identified faculty member
to whom residents are directly responsible. There must be qualified Obstetricians and
Gynecologists attached to each clinical teaching service.
b.
Ambulatory Services
i.
Obstetrical and gynecological clinics must provide ample opportunity for residents to
become competent in investigation, outpatient management, and followup of all
categories of obstetric and gynecologic problems. All residents must be assigned
responsibilities for outpatients on a regularly scheduled basis. Such assignments
must constitute a learning experience supervised by the teaching staff. Other
activities must not conflict with these assignments.
ii. There must be appropriate ambulatory facilities for:
- high risk obstetrics
- antenatal genetics
- pregnancy counselling and family planning
© 2015 The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. All rights reserved.
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SPECIFIC STANDARDS OF ACCREDITATION FOR RESIDENCY PROGRAMS
IN OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY (2016)
- endocrinology and infertility
- cancer and colposcopy
- urogynecology
- obstetric and gynecologic ultrasound
c. Community-based Learning Experiences
Opportunities must be provided for residents to participate in community-based learning
experiences.
4.
Supporting Services - Clinical, Diagnostic, Technical
The services detailed below must be available to the program.
a.
Active teaching services in General Surgery, Internal Medicine, diagnostic imaging, and
neonatology.
b.
An emergency department with an adequate number and variety of patients presenting
urgent problems in the specialty. Each resident must have extensive opportunities,
under appropriate supervision, to provide an initial assessment and consultative service
to patients presenting with emergency conditions.
c.
Critical care units organized for teaching.
d.
An active pathology service, preferably incorporating a subdivision of gynecological
pathology with cytology services, under a qualified pathologist.
e.
Specialized staff and facilities for laboratory assessment. Examples are
endocrinological, biochemical, and cytogenetic services.
f.
A full range of diagnostic imaging services.
g.
A full range of anesthesia services.
STANDARD B5:
CLINICAL,
PROGRAM
ACADEMIC,
AND
SCHOLARLY
CONTENT
OF
THE
The clinical, academic and scholarly content of the program must be appropriate
for university postgraduate education and adequately prepare residents to fulfil all
of the CanMEDS Roles of the specialist. The quality of scholarship in the program
will be demonstrated by a spirit of enquiry during clinical discussions at the
bedside, in clinics, in the community, and in seminars, rounds, and conferences.
Scholarship implies an in-depth understanding of basic mechanisms of normal and
abnormal states and the application of current knowledge to practice.
Please refer to Standard B5 of the General Standards of Accreditation, the Objectives of
Training, the Specialty Training Requirements in Obstetrics and Gynecology, and the
CanMEDS framework for the interpretation of this standard. Each program must develop a
curriculum for each of the CanMEDS Roles, which reflects the uniqueness of the program
and its particular environment. Specific additional requirements are listed below.
© 2015 The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. All rights reserved.
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SPECIFIC STANDARDS OF ACCREDITATION FOR RESIDENCY PROGRAMS
IN OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY (2016)
1. Medical Expert
The General Standards of Accreditation apply to this section.
2. Communicator
The General Standards of Accreditation apply to this section.
3. Collaborator
The General Standards of Accreditation apply to this section.
4. Manager
The General Standards of Accreditation apply to this section.
5. Health Advocate
The General Standards of Accreditation apply to this section.
6. Scholar
In addition to the General Standards of Accreditation, the following requirement applies:
-
The program must provide residents with appropriate resources, time, and
supervision to participate in a scholarly research, quality assurance, or educational
project.
7. Professional
The General Standards of Accreditation apply to this section.
STANDARD B6: ASSESSMENT OF RESIDENT PERFORMANCE
There must be mechanisms in place to ensure the systematic collection and
interpretation of assessment data on each resident enrolled in the program.
Please refer to Standard B6 of the General Standards of Accreditation for the interpretation
of this standard.
Adopted by Council - April 8, 1995
Revised - March 26, 1999
Revised – SSRC – July 2008
Revised – Specialty Committee – December 2014
Approved – Specialty Standards Review Committee – February 2015
© 2015 The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. All rights reserved.
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