Office of the Ombudsperson Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
| Question 1: |
What is the ACGME’s Office of the Ombudsperson? |
| Answer 1: |
The Office of the Ombudsperson offers an opportunity to report education and training-related issues about residency/fellowship programs and their Sponsoring Institutions without impacting their accreditation or recognition status. Allegations presented to this office should be within the scope of the ACGME’s oversight and relate to accreditation or recognition standards. The Office of the Ombudsperson listens and educates about options, available resources, and mechanisms to assist in the resolution of education and training-related concerns and may work with the institution to request an internal inquiry to further explore the issues raised, if appropriate. |
| Question 2: |
What resources might be available to help address issues within an institution, program, or another organization? |
| Answer 2: |
Before contacting the ACGME and its Office of the Ombudsperson, concerned parties should use available local resources to report education and training-related issues and seek resolutions. Review this list of potential resources.. |
| Question 3: |
What types of allegations are appropriate to report to the ACGME and what are generally outside of the ACGME’s scope? |
| Answer 3: |
Appropriate allegations can be linked to widespread and repeated non-compliance with accreditation or recognition standards. The ACGME does not adjudicate individual disputes or intervene in matters such as dismissal/reinstatement, employment or academic disputes, academic appeals, remediation or probation decisions, content of evaluations, content of verification of training documentation, resident and fellow selection, The Match®, personnel decisions (e.g., removing individuals from roles), funding, or salaries/benefits. View this video module about non-compliance reports to better understand what does and does not fall within the ACGME’s organizational scope. |
| Question 4: |
Where can one find the accreditation standards (“requirements”)? |
| Answer 4: |
Program requirements can be found on each specialty page on the ACGME’s website under the “Specialties” tab. Institutional requirements can be found under the “Programs and Institutions” tab. Potential reporters are encouraged to review the accreditation standards to better understand the ACGME’s scope and help frame allegations. Questions about the requirements or requests for clarification can be directed to a staff member for the appropriate specialty, whose contact information can also be found on the specialty's page under "Contact and Support.” |
| Question 5: |
If the Office of the Ombudsperson initiates an internal inquiry, what does that entail? |
| Answer 5: |
The Office of the Ombudsperson often reaches out to the designated institutional official (DIO) in the graduate medical education (GME) office within a Sponsoring Institution. The DIO may be asked to seek additional information about the concerns and potentially create an action plan to address those that may be validated through this exploration. The DIO will typically be asked to submit a report detailing the review and the proposed solutions or action plans that may result. |
| Question 6: |
Can an individual submit a report to the Office of the Ombudsperson anonymously and confidentially? |
| Answer 6: |
The Office of the Ombudsperson accepts anonymously submitted reports and will strive to maintain the confidentiality of any individual who submits one to the extent possible. Providing valid contact information when submitting a concern is essential as it enables the opportunity for a dialogue with a staff member to get more information as needed. |
| Question 7: |
Will the report submitted to the Office of the Ombudsperson be shared with the program or institution? |
| Answer 7: |
Original reports submitted to the Office of the Ombudsperson will not be shared with anyone unless the concerned party gives permission to do so. |
| Question 8: |
Will a copy of the correspondence between the Ombudsperson and the institution and/or the DIO’s response to a submission be provided to the concerned party who reported it? |
| Answer 8: |
No. Consistent with ACGME confidentiality policies, communications between the ACGME and Sponsoring Institutions and/or programs will not be shared. |
| Question 9: |
Will a report to the Office of the Ombudsperson impact the accreditation status of a program and/or Sponsoring Institution? |
| Answer 9: |
No. The ACGME has a separate process for submitting non-compliance reports that may inform the accreditation or recognition function. If issues cannot be resolved through the Office of the Ombudsperson, reporting parties may raise allegations of widespread and repeated non-compliance with the ACGME’s accreditation or recognition requirements through the non-compliance report process. |
| Question 10: |
How are reports submitted to the Office of the Ombudsperson? |
| Answer 10: |
Reports must be submitted to the Ombudsperson by email to ombuds@acgme.org. Questions may also be addressed through email. |
| Question 11: |
How does someone contact the Office of the Ombudsperson with questions? |
| Answer 11: |
Email questions to the Office of the Ombudsperson to ombuds@acgme.org. Staff members will respond to process-related questions via email. For documentation purposes, questions should be submitted in writing. |
| Question 12: |
Does the Office of the Ombudsperson process address urgent matters? |
| Answer 12: |
No. This process is not meant to address urgent matters. For urgent matters, consider other potential resources for reporting within the program, Sponsoring Institution, or another appropriate avenue. |