Background
Medical education outcomes and clinical data exist in multiple unconnected databases, resulting in 3 problems: (1) it is difficult to connect learner outcomes with patient outcomes, (2) learners cannot be easily tracked over time through the education-training-practice continuum, and (3) no standard methodology ensures quality and privacy of the data.
Objective
The purpose of this study was to develop a Medical Education Outcomes Center (MEOC) to integrate education data and to build a framework to standardize the intake and processing of requests for using these data.
Methods
An inventory of over 100 data sources owned or utilized by the medical school was conducted, and nearly 2 dozen of these data sources have been vetted and integrated into the MEOC. In addition, the American Medical Association (AMA) Physician Masterfile data of the University of Minnesota Medical School (UMMS) graduates were linked to the data from the National Provider Identifier (NPI) registry to develop a mechanism to connect alumni practice data to education data.
Results
Over 160 data requests have been fulfilled, culminating in a range of outcomes analyses, including support of accreditation efforts. The MEOC received data on 13,092 UMMS graduates in the AMA Physician Masterfile and could link 10,443 with NPI numbers and began to explore their practice demographics. The technical and operational work to expand the MEOC continues. Next steps are to link the educational data to the clinical practice data through NPI numbers to assess the effectiveness of our medical education programs by the clinical outcomes of our graduates.
Conclusions
The MEOC provides a replicable framework to allow other schools to more effectively operate their programs and drive innovation.
Electron Microscopy of Virus-Like Particles in a Keratoacanthoma11From the Division of Dermatology, (Dr. F. W. Lynch, Director), University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, Minnesota.Supported in part by research grants M-388 and B-782 from the National Institute of Mental Health and the National Institute of Neurologic Diseases and Blindness, U.S.P.H.S., administered by Dr. J. F. Hartmann, and by the Graduate Medical Research Fund of the University of Minnesota.
