Turning ACGME Survey Results into Meaningful Action: A Strategic Approach to Program Improvement

Each year, the ACGME Resident and Faculty Surveys provide Graduate Medical Education programs with valuable insight into the learning environment, institutional culture, and compliance with accreditation requirements. While many programs focus on the survey during the administration period, the most effective organizations view survey results as a year-round quality improvement tool rather than a once-a-year benchmark.

When survey results are reviewed thoughtfully and consistently, they can help institutions identify emerging trends, prioritize improvement efforts, and strengthen program performance over time.

Building a Comprehensive View of Program Performance

Survey results should be evaluated at both the institutional and program levels. While individual program results provide valuable insight into specific learning environments, reviewing trends across all programs can help identify broader organizational patterns and opportunities for improvement.

Rather than focusing solely on individual compliance percentages, institutions should consider:

• Trends over multiple survey cycles

• Areas with consistently lower compliance

• Differences between programs

• The number of survey respondents and overall participation rates

• Common themes that may require institution-wide attention

Viewing survey results through a broader lens helps organizations move beyond reacting to individual scores and instead develop more strategic improvement plans.

Prepare Residents and Faculty Before the Survey Opens

One of the most effective ways to support meaningful survey participation begins well before the survey period.

Programs should consider meeting with residents and faculty prior to survey administration to discuss recent accomplishments, review program improvements, and reinforce the purpose of the ACGME surveys. Educating participants about how survey feedback is used and demonstrating that previous feedback has resulted in meaningful action can encourage thoughtful participation.

Reviewing the ACGME Survey FAQ with residents and faculty before the survey is released can also help clarify common questions and ensure participants understand the survey process.

Create an Environment for Thoughtful Participation

Survey responses are most valuable when participants have adequate time to reflect on their experiences.

Many institutions schedule protected time during didactic sessions or other educational activities to allow residents to complete the survey without interruptions or competing clinical responsibilities. Providing dedicated time reinforces the importance of the survey while helping maximize participation.

Use Survey Results to Identify Risk Early

Survey review should extend beyond identifying programs with low compliance scores. Institutions benefit from developing a structured process to evaluate survey results, identify areas of concern, and determine the level of follow-up that may be appropriate.

This may include:

• Reviewing areas with lower compliance across survey domains

• Identifying programs with declining trends over multiple years

• Categorizing programs based on the number and severity of identified concerns

• Determining whether additional monitoring or a Special Review may be warranted

A standardized review process helps institutions prioritize resources and proactively address concerns before they become larger accreditation challenges.

Creating a Sustainable Improvement Process

Improving survey results is rarely the result of short-term efforts during the survey administration period. Instead, it reflects continuous attention to the learning environment throughout the academic year.

Regularly reviewing survey trends, educating residents and faculty, and evaluating the effectiveness of improvement initiatives allows institutions to address concerns proactively rather than reactively. Over time, this approach strengthens both program performance and the overall educational experience.

Turning Insight into Action

The ACGME Resident and Faculty Surveys are intended to provide meaningful insight into the educational environment, serving as a valuable tool for continuous program improvement rather than simply measuring performance. Organizations that consistently analyze results, identify trends, and implement thoughtful improvement strategies are better positioned to support accreditation success while enhancing the resident and faculty experience.

At Germane Solutions, we partner with institutions to analyze ACGME survey results, identify trends, assess program risk, and develop strategic improvement plans that strengthen both accreditation readiness and the learning environment. Contact us to learn how our experts can help your organization turn survey data into meaningful program improvement.