AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION HOUSE OF DELEGATES

Introduced by:    American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Subject:    Musculoskeletal Care in Graduate Medical Education
Referred to:    Reference Committee C (George Thomas, MD, Chair)

Whereas, Musculoskeletal problems are a leading cause of pain and disability in our society; and

Whereas, The United States has been joined by 27 other countries and the United Nations in declaring the decade 2000-2010 as the Bone and Joint Decade; and

Whereas, Managed care and our health care system generally are requiring primary care physicians to manage more musculoskeletal conditions than ever before; and

Whereas, All physicians need to understand the basic principles of diagnosing and treating such conditions in order to be able to properly care for their patients; and

Whereas, Medical schools should provide physicians with this base level of knowledge; and

Whereas, According to a recent study, 82% of recent medical school graduates examined failed to demonstrate basic competency in musculoskeletal medicine; and

Whereas, A follow-up study reported that according to the standard suggested by the program directors of internal medicine residency departments, a large majority of the examinees once again failed to demonstrate basic competency in musculoskeletal medicine; and

Whereas, it is therefore reasonable to conclude that medical school preparation in musculoskeletal medicine is inadequate; therefore be it

RESOLVED, That our American Medical Association strongly urge our medical schools to formally reevaluate the musculoskeletal curriculum with the input of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the Orthopaedic subspecialty organizations (Directive to Take Action); and be it further

RESOLVED, That our AMA strongly urge our medical schools to make changes that ensure medical school students have the appropriate education and training in musculoskeletal care, and make competence in basic musculoskeletal principles a graduation requirement for medical school (New HOD Policy); and be it further

RESOLVED, That our AMA encourage its representatives to the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, and the various Residency Review Committees to promote higher standards in basic competence in musculoskeletal care in accreditation standards. (Directive to Take Action)

Fiscal Note: No Significant Fiscal Impact

Received: 5/15/03