Toria Barnhart | Chillicothe Gazette | Chillicothe | The Chillicothe Gazette

CHILLICOTHE - First-year residents participating in Adena Health System's Emergency Medicine residency program will have to continue their residency elsewhere at the end of June in 2021.

The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Review Committee for Emergency Medicine has withdrawn Adena's emergency medicine accreditation effective June 30, 2021, according to Jason Gilham, communications manager. Second and third-year residents will be able to complete their residency programs before the withdrawal, but first-year residents will experience the most impact.

"We will be assisting those who either choose to or need to continue their residency elsewhere, helping them find a program that will give them the best opportunity for career success," said Gilham.

In total, there are 20 emergency residents in Adena's program. There are three fourth-year residents, five third-year residents, six second-year residents and six first-year residents in the post-graduate program.

The decision to withdraw the program was unexpected and the health system says they are disappointed. At this time, it is unclear why the committee made the decision to terminate the accreditation but a letter of notification sent by the ACGME within 60 days may provide more insight.

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Other specialty residency programs through Adena like family medicine, internal medicine, psychiatry and transitional year programs are not affected by the decision as each is individually accredited. All accredited programs are reviewed annually by their respective review committee.

Once the health system has a better understanding of why the accreditation was withdrawn, leaders within the Adena Graduate Medical Education program and health system leadership will determine the next steps as it relates to the emergency medicine program.

Gilham says there will be no impact on Adena's Emergency Departments within each hospital. The accreditation is specific to the emergency medicine education program for residents who choose to train at Adena. Although residents see patients with the oversight of an attending physician, they are not included as Adena's medical or emergency department staff members.

"Patient and visitors can be assured, this decision by ACGME does not affect nor disrupt patient care within Adena Regional Medical Center’s day-to-day ER operations," he said.

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