Accreditation continues to be a major factor in health professions education.  The Pew Foundation and the Center for the Health Professions recognize this fact as they address issues that are important as we prepare practitioners for the next century.

SESSION OUTLINE

I.  Background for the Development of the Task force

• Pew Health Professions Commission

• Objectives

• Current system

• Community discussion

• Strategies to strengthen public interest

• Actions for stakeholders

II. Current Strengths of Specialized Accreditation

• Hallmark

• Shared values

• Public interest

• Professional mobility

• Other

• Single point inspection

• Regulatory

• Professional self-interest

• Fragmentation

• Prohibits cross-disciplinary or interdisciplinary

• Discourages experimentation

• Other

• Established traditions

• Overspecialization

• Self-interest

• Accreditation as business

• Variety of accreditation practices

• Other

Accreditation is a simple concept but is fraught with complexities as implemented.  You should now understand some of those complexities.