Office of the Ombudsperson
Overview
The ACGME’s Office of the Ombudsperson offers a safe space to raise concerns about education and training-related issues that fall within the ACGME’s oversight. Discussions with staff members are confidential, unless the concerned party grants permission to discuss issues with other involved parties. Staff members will listen, educate, and, whenever possible, help to locate resources to assist in the resolution concerns.
The Office of the Ombudsperson offers an opportunity to report issues about ACGME-accredited or recognized programs and 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. Concerned parties should use available resources within a program or Sponsoring Institution before contacting the ACGME. If these resources have been exhausted, they may contact the ACGME’s Office of the Ombudsperson to outline efforts made to address the concerns, inquire about options for additional resources, and/or request that the Ombudsperson initiate an internal inquiry, if appropriate.
If the Office of the Ombudsperson initiates an internal inquiry to further explore the issues raised, the institution will 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 institution will then submit a report detailing the review and the proposed solutions or action plans that may result.
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.
- Review FAQs about the Office of the Ombudsperson.
- View this video to better understand what does and does not fall within the ACGME’s organizational scope.
Services Provided
- Provides a space to confidentially raise concerns about matters that fall within the ACGME’s oversight and relate to accreditation or recognition standards.
- Before taking any action, listens and educates about options, available resources, and mechanisms to assist in the resolution of education and training-related concerns (including the use of the ACGME’s non-compliance report process).
- Requests internal inquiries to further explore and resolve issues raised when appropriate.
- Opens lines of communication between residents/fellows and involved parties.
Services Not Provided
- Does not render accreditation or recognition decisions or provide information to ACGME Review or Recognition Committees.
- Does not make judgments in disputes between individuals and residency/fellowship programs/Sponsoring Institutions. 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, verification of training documentation, resident and fellow selection, The Match®, personnel decisions (e.g., removing individuals from roles), funding, or salaries/benefits.
- Does not conduct formal investigations.
- Does not participate in any formal grievance process or offer opinions about administrative decisions.
- Does not create, change, or set aside employment or academic policies or decisions.
- Does not provide professional counselling.
- Does not provide legal advice or get involved in legal issues.
How to Contact the Office of the Ombudsperson
Before contacting the Office of the Ombudsperson, concerned parties should report and attempt to resolve issues by using the resources available in the Sponsoring Institution and program or another external organization as appropriate.
Additional Resources: This resource document may assist a concerned party in finding the appropriate reporting pathway.
Parties wishing to report educational issues that fall within the ACGME’s oversight are invited to email the Office of the Ombudsperson with questions about the process and to learn about potential resources. Requests for the Office of the Ombudsperson to initiate an internal inquiry should be emailed.
The Office of the Ombudsperson must have a way to communicate with concerned parties. Anonymous emails are accepted, but the ability to respond and create dialogue is essential or the report may not be processed.
Be sure to include the following:
- A brief summary of the issues, including steps taken to report within the program and/or Sponsoring Institution and attempt a resolution - if relevant
- The name, city, and state of the residency or fellowship program
- Contact information for the reporting party
To contact the Office of the Ombudsperson, email ombuds@acgme.org.