Assessment of the Value Propositions of American College of Surgeons-accredited Education Institutes

Simulation is widely accepted in surgical, medical, and health professions education as an important tool to improve patient care and patient safety. The American College of Surgeons launched a program to accredit simulation centers in 2005. These accredited simulation centers are called ACS-accredited Education Institutes (ACS AEIs), and are designated either Comprehensive or Focused. Despite the major contributions of the ACS AEIs to learners from surgery, medicine, and other healthcare professions and to patient safety, they often struggle to create new value aligned perfectly with the mission and goals of their organizations and to articulate effectively their value propositions to internal and external stakeholders. This may impact the organizational support and resources to fulfill their mission and goals. This study involved a survey of leaders of 83 US-based ACS AEIs to obtain information on their programs and activities that generate value for the organizations and stakeholders, and to identify opportunities to improve the value propositions of the ACS AEIs and articulate their value propositions effectively. The survey questions were based on conceptual frameworks from surgical, medical, and health professions education and from business and healthcare. The response rate was 54.2%. Almost all respondents agreed that creation of new value by ACS AEIs for their organizations is important. Also, most respondents agreed that ACS AEIs should use conceptual frameworks from business to convey their value propositions to various stakeholders. Several major opportunities for ACS AEIs to pursue new value and to demonstrate, document, and communicate their value were identified. The findings also revealed that stakeholders need to be more fully engaged by the ACS AEIs in co-defining resource needs, and in co-producing and co-marketing the programs and activities. Integration of the ACS AEIs at the organizational level and establishment of reciprocal relationships with key stakeholders to address organizational priorities should help to improve the value propositions of ACS AEIs and increase the commitment of stakeholders to the ACS AEIs. The results of this study and recommendations should be helpful to all ACS AEIs as well as more broadly to simulation centers accredited by other organizations, and result in a global impact.

Author dc:creator

• Ajit K. Sachdeva (24400097)

• Leaders of ACS-accredited Education Institutes

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright
• Open Access after 2028-05-01

DOI dc:identifier

https://doi.org/10.25417/uic.32995145.v1

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:figshare.com:article/32995145