Ob-Gyn Residency Program Risks Losing Accreditation
Officials at Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield are concerned that a residency program for new ob-gyn physicians could lose accreditation in a few months, the Bakersfield Californian reports. The ob-gyn department is scheduled to undergo a re-accreditation survey in February 2008 by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.
The hospital hired a specialist from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists to conduct a "mock accreditation" report of the department's residency program.
The report, released on Monday, found internal conflict and misbehavior among faculty that "could lead to summary withdrawal of the (residency program), without recourse to appeal."
Paul Hensler, CEO of the hospital, said a loss of accreditation could deprive current residents the opportunity to graduate from an accredited program. The hospital also could lose its ability to attract resident physicians.
Hensler said the hospital is working to ensure the residency program earns re-accreditation (Burger, Bakersfield Californian, 10/29).