The Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM) is committed to improving the quality of in-patient care through the provision of educational programs, tools, and resources to its membership. In 2002, the SHM Education Committee and leadership met to develop its first strategic plan for education. Long-range and short-term goals were determined, establishing a strategic vision and direction for education for the organization. Long-range goals included defining and developing a core curriculum in hospital medicine; developing a variety of modalities to deliver education; promoting collaborative efforts with other organizations; promoting original research in hospital medicine; and establishing a recognition program for completion of the core curriculum.
To help achieve its short-term goals, the Education Committee formed three task forces: the Core Curriculum Task Force, Leadership Task Force, and Geriatrics Task Force. As a result of the work of committees, task forces, and members, an impressive array of educational programs and products has been developed for membership, and much progress has been made in reaching SHM’s long-term educational goals. SHM would like to acknowledge and thank all of the members who have contributed countless hours and tireless effort to the educational initiatives of the organization.
The Education Committee formed two Core Curriculum Task Forces, an Adult and a Pediatric task force. Each task force has been defining and developing the core curriculum, which will identify the expected proficiencies of members and establish the distinctive differences between hospital medicine and other related medical specialties. The Adult Core Curriculum Task Force executive committee includes Mike Pistoria, Alpesh Amin, Tina Budnitz, Dan Dressler, and Sylvia McKean. An Adult Core Curriculum Guide is expected to be published and released in the spring of 2005. The Guide will contain three sections, each with multiple chapters: Clinical Conditions, Systems, and Procedures. Each chapter begins with an introduction articulating its importance to the practice of hospital medicine, followed by competencies categorized into four areas: knowledge, skills, attitudes, and systems organization and improvement. The core curriculum will be the basis for all future SHM educational activities. It is anticipated that the Core Curriculum Guide will standardize efforts to educate hospitalists across the continuum of medical education. The guide will be provided to internal medicine clerkship and residency program directors and hospitalist fellowship directors. Educators responsible for developing continuing medical education activities for physicians will find the guide to be a valuable resource.
The Pediatric Core Curriculum Guide will be similar in structure to the Adult Guide and is a work in progress. The Pediatric Core Curriculum Task Force executive committee includes Tim Cornell, Dan Rauch, and Alpesh Amin.
The Society of Hospital Medicine’s annual meeting has become the premier meeting for health care professionals who specialize in hospital medicine. The annual meeting provides a wide range of opportunities for learning. Participants can select from a variety of tracks, which include adult and pediatric clinical topics, operational and organizational issues, and challenges for academic hospitalists. The diversity of the annual meeting allows for more personal and individualized learning and tremendous opportunities for networking with colleagues. Preetha Basaviah is the course director of the 2005 annual meeting, which will be held April 28-30, in Chicago, Illinois. The theme for this 8th annual meeting is, “Hospital Medicine in 2005: Strategies for Success.”
In 2004, Regional meetings were held in the Northeast, Western, and Southern regions with much success. Forty-three chapters across the country are also developing educational sessions for their local meetings. Several courses focusing on specific topics of interest to hospitalists have been developed and are offered the day prior to the annual or regional meetings. Pre-courses include Practice Management, Leadership Survival, Perioperative and Consultative Medicine, and Critical Care for the Hospitalist, offering additional opportunities for members to enhance their skills and knowledge.