Although abortion training has historically been affiliated with residency training in obstetrics and gynecology, it is far from being routinely offered or easily accessible in all programs.
In 1995 the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) acknowledged that abortion training opportunities had dropped to a dangerous level and adopted clear new guidelines that explicitly set forth the expectation that abortion training would be available to all ob-gyn residents. The new standard (Section V, A, 2, e), adopted on July 31, 1995 for implementation beginning January 1, 1996, reads:
"No program or resident with a religious or moral objection shall be required to provide training in or to perform induced abortions. Otherwise, access to experience with induced abortion must be part of residency education. Experience with management of complications of abortion must be provided to all residents. If a residency program has a religious, moral, or legal restriction that prohibits the residents from providing abortions within the institution, the program must ensure that the residents receive satisfactory education and experience in managing the complications of abortion. Furthermore, such residency programs (1) must not impede residents in the programs who do not have religious or moral objections from receiving education and experience in providing abortions at another institution and (2) must publicize such policy to all applicants to those residency programs."
In 1998, the National Abortion Federation surveyed ob-gyn residency programs across the United States, generating some early data that cautiously suggest a possible increase in the number of programs providing abortion training. Of the 179 programs that responded for the study (out of 261 accredited programs), 46% reported routinely offering first trimester abortion training, and 34% reported offering it as an elective. Seventy-four (74) percent of programs reported offering second trimester training - 44% routinely and 29% as an elective.
Over the past several years, abortion training is also becoming more available in Family Medicine residency programs. In 2002, the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM) Group on Abortion Training and Access surveyed all 480 family practice residency program directors regarding the availability of abortion training in their programs. Of the 337 programs responding, 11 programs fully integrated abortion training into the curriculum, 4 made abortion training available through an established elective, and 3 allowed residents to find and set up an elective for themselves.
Abortion training is appropriate for a broad spectrum of health care providers, including those who specialize in ob-gyn, family medicine, emergency medicine, internal medicine, and adolescent/pediatric medicine. Many organizations, including the National Abortion Federation, are committed to helping interested residency programs identify means for integrating abortion services and training into their curricula, and providing technical assistance and support.
NAF is committed to helping interested medical students and residents identify and obtain abortion training. NAF can help medical students to identify residency programs with abortion training opportunities, or help residents identify elective opportunities where they may not be as easily accessible.
In 1998 the National Abortion Federation surveyed accredited, ob-gyn Residency Programs in the U.S. to assess the availability of abortion training. A similar survey was conducted of Family Medicine Residency Programs by the STFM Group on Abortion Training and Access in 2002. Information and assistance finding a residency training program with accessible abortion training.
Abortion training, when not routinely offered in a residency program, can still be obtained during residency through independent electives. Many NAF members are committed to training residents to ensure future generations of abortion providers can continue to deliver the highest quality services to women. As a part of this commitment, many NAF clinics host resident trainees during elective time in their residency training.
Obtaining abortion training in a NAF clinic presents incredible opportunities:
- Comprehensive Skill Building - Residents learn patient counseling, pelvic exams, ultrasound, uterine sizing, surgical technique, pain management, and management of complications. In addition, patient volume in clinics presents opportunities for training to competency, and residents are able to develop increased sensitivity toward abortion patients.
- High-Quality Medical Care - NAF membership is comprised of a number of nationally recognized researchers, clinicians, and educators. All NAF clinics certify compliance with NAF's Clinical Policy Guidelines, the standards of care in the delivery of abortion services.
- Compliance with Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) abortion training requirements - While the ACGME mandate provides an exception for residency programs with religious or moral objections, it still requires that "experience with management of complications of abortion must be provided to all residents." This experience can easily be obtained in a NAF clinic.
Read the ACGME's abortion training requirements for resident education in ob-gyn and other abortion training provisions (PDF file, 48K)
- Fulfillment of CREOG Educational Objectives - The Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology (CREOG) has identified areas of care in which all residents must have experience. Experience in these areas - history taking, physical examination, diagnostic studies, diagnosis, management and follow-up - can be readily obtained in NAF clinics.
More information about abortion training with NAF members and training opportunities outside your core residency curriculum
As a part of their commitment to make reproductive health care, including abortion, a part of standard medical education and residency training, Medical Students for Choice (MSFC) maintains ob-gyn and Family Practice Residency Guides. These online guides were created to provide a forum for medical students, residents, and residency program directors to share information about the availability of abortion training in various U.S. and Canadian residency programs. Find your residency program and add information about your experience to the online Residency Guides by visiting Medical Students for Choice.
RHEDI, Reproductive Health EDucation In
Family Medicine, is housed within the Department of Family and Social
Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, New York, and also maintains a Family Medicine Residency Guide. To find a list of family medicine residencies that offer comprehensive training which
includes didactic and clinical training in contraception, pregnancy
options counseling, hands-on abortion training, and pre- and
post-abortion care visit RHEDI.
RHEDI also provides other articles about abortion in Family Medicine training.
On October 23, 1998, an anti-choice terrorist shot and killed Dr. Barnett A. Slepian, an abortion provider in Buffalo, New York. In the wake of his murder, Mrs. Slepian requested that donations be made to the Pro-Choice Network of Western New York. The outpouring in response to Dr. Slepian's tragic murder inspired the Pro-Choice Network to collaborate with the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo to establish a fund which would not only honor his memory, but would also have a positive impact on reproductive choice.
The Dr. Barnett A. Slepian Memorial Fund makes training grants to medical students, residents and healthcare professionals who are committed to include abortion in their medical practice, view the option of abortion as an integral part of comprehensive care for women, and refuse to allow political extremists to dictate patient care.
To learn more information about the Dr. Barnett A. Slepian Memorial Fund and to submit an application, go to Buffalo Womenservices.
|
