Role of National Organizations in the Education and Evaluation of Professionals Who Care for Children

Abstract

Imagine a time when any family with a sick child can be assured that any physician licensed to care for their young has had a planned educational experience designed to assist that physician to perform in a competent fashion. Imagine a time where any physician licensed to care for their young has recently demonstrated competency in managing the problems facing their sick child. Imagine a time when programs accredited to educate physicians will routinely document the ability of their students to perform competently. The purpose of this paper is to provide suggestions for ways to improve the system of education and evaluation of professionals responsible for the health care of infants, children, and adolescents in the United States of America. These suggestions are based on an empirical analysis of the existing systems. On the basis of that analysis, I believe that the systems, as presently designed and operated, are not fully meeting the needs of our profession. There are steps that we can and should take to improve these important processes, and I believe that we should begin to work to enhance and make better our educational and evaluative systems. Hopefully, from these efforts a model for others within the health care world will emerge. This paper will have four parts. First, a presentation of the functions that a system of national organizations should carry out in the education and evaluation of those persons professionally responsible for the health care of children. Second, a discussion of how those functions are presently met through the activities of national organizations.