With the 2023 ACGME Annual Educational Conference approaching, the theme Meaning in Medicine: Making a Difference is at the forefront of our minds. Given the historic times we are living through, it is impossible to ignore the significant impact of COVID-19 on the healthcare industry and the Graduate Medical Education (GME) community. In fact, this conference holds special significance for us, as it marks the return to in-person events after several years of holding virtual gatherings. The theme reflects the challenges faced by the GME community, including significant healthcare inequities brought to light by the pandemic, as well as the exceptional accomplishments made despite these challenges.
As we reflect on the theme, "How can I help?" is a question we are asking ourselves at Germane Solutions. The GME community, including physicians, educators, and leaders, play an indispensable role in advocating for high-quality, equitable patient care. The ACGME has called for a renewed focus on working together to achieve this goal. At Germane Solutions, we understand the critical role we play in ensuring quality care alongside our clients.
As a niche firm, Germane Solutions is committed to academic medicine and the GME space. We partner with organizations to elevate GME to a strategic position, create new programs, and optimize existing ones. By collaborating and building connections, we can make a meaningful difference in improving access to care and preparing the physicians of the future to meet the evolving needs of the healthcare industry. Accordingly, our mission to our clients is to provide excellence through innovative, data-driven approaches, and industry expertise in academic medicine. When GME is fully integrated into a health system it can not only support but also further the system’s objectives. We have become the trusted advisors to our clients through our over 40 system-wide strategies, 380 newly created programs, and $200 million dollars of financial recovery. Especially in the face of the physician shortage and the need for equitable access to high-quality care, we remain committed to our goal and are excited to see the positive impact our collective efforts will have on the health of the nation.
The pandemic has challenged the entire healthcare industry to adapt quickly to new and constantly changing circumstances, spotlighting the importance of resilient, well-trained healthcare providers. By optimizing GME programs, we can better prepare future clinicians and residents to deliver care. Additionally, our work in adding to the physician pipeline bridges the gap between medical school graduates and residency slots and works to address the national physician shortage. Increasing the total number of physicians allows for more attention — and doctors — to be brought to rural and historically underserved areas that have long suffered from gaps in care. More doctors translates to more care, and we have facilitated the creation of over 8,000 GME positions.
Germane Solutions is proud to have partnered with many of the conference's participating programs. We believe that collaboration and forging strong connections is critical to revolutionizing the delivery of GME and academic medicine. As we strive to bring meaning to medicine through innovative solutions that create powerful results, we remain committed to empowering our clients and team to be innovative agents of change, who will therefore contribute to the population's health status. By working together, we can continue to make a difference in the lives of patients and communities across the country.