Date: 02/28/2012
First of Five Steps Toward Accreditation Approved by Prestigious LCME
BRISTOL, Tenn. – The proposed King School of Medicine & Health Sciences Center has reached another important milestone by earning "Applicant School" status with the accrediting body for medical education programs that lead to M.D. degrees in North America. The Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) has notified King College that the proposed School of Medicine has met its initial eligibility requirements.
"This means the path is cleared for us to work through the steps toward full accreditation," said William G. Adams, chairman of the King School of Medicine, Inc. Board of Trustees. "There are five steps to the process – each with its own rigorous requirements. We are pleased and very proud to have received a green light from the LCME. This LCME acknowledgement is another important landmark during the school's planning and development stage."
King College is one of seven schools nationwide to earn the applicant school status.
Recently, the school has also formed a separate governing body for the proposed medical school.
"The King School of Medicine, Inc. is the newly formed Virginia entity that will guide the development and progress of the King School of Medicine," according to King College President Dr. Gregory D. Jordan. "With the assistance of the firm of McGuire Woods of Richmond, Va., the corporation has established articles, bylaws and governance structure under which to operate."
In addition to matching the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Revitalization Commission's $25 million grant in September of 2011, many other essential aspects of the project are progressing.
"We continue to work on clinical partnerships and have several letters of support from various providers," said Tariq Zaidi, operational liaison and trustee for the King School of Medicine, Inc. "We have begun discussions with clinical systems regarding a founding dean. We have applied for and are awaiting acceptance of 501(c)(3) status to become a non-profit, which will aid our fundraising efforts. We also have strong working relationships with the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center and continue discussions regarding a partnership with Virginia Highlands Community College. In addition, numerous positive discussions with appropriate parties have been held regarding the development of regional clinics in several Southwest Virginia counties."
William C. Argabrite, trustee for the King School of Medicine, Inc., added that "discussions continue regarding successful rural health and medical education models and the project continues to gather momentum and regional support."
King also has convened the inaugural meeting of the national steering committee, the Regional Committee on Medical Education and Public Health.
The proposed King School of Medicine & Health Sciences Center will be located off Exit 14 of Interstate 81 in Abingdon, Va. The Board of Trustees of King School of Medicine, Inc. is reviewing a range of alternatives for the design, development and construction of educational facilities within Stone Mill Business and Technology Park.
The construction, program launch and long-term life of the medical school program are projected to have a significant economic impact on the region. According to independent medical education consulting firm Tripp Umbach, the total construction impact alone will be in the range of $210 million and support more than 1,500 jobs in Virginia.
Tripp Umbach is projecting that when the first class of 60 to 75 students enters the medical school in Abingdon, the additional revenue generated from economic activity at the school will result in a business volume impact of more than $50 million. By year seven, that number would jump to $70 million.
A major objective of the proposed medical school is to graduate well-trained physicians with a desire to practice in non-urban areas in order to reverse a worsening physician shortage while also creating greater access to medical services across Southwest Virginia and the five-state region. National data show the Southern Highlands region of Central Appalachia lags significantly behind the national average in access to health care, life expectancy, prevalence of diabetes and low birth weight.
More About the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME):
Accreditation is a process of quality assurance in postsecondary education that determines whether an institution or program meets established standards for function, structure, and performance. Medical education programs leading to the M.D. degree in the United States and Canada are accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).
Accreditation by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) establishes eligibility for selected federal grants and programs, including Title VII funding administered by the Public Health Service. Most state boards of licensure require that U.S. medical schools be accredited by the LCME, as a condition for licensure of their graduates. Eligibility of U.S. students to take the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) requires LCME accreditation of their school. Graduates of LCME-accredited schools are eligible for residency programs accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). The Department of Education recognizes the LCME for the accreditation of programs of medical education leading to the M.D. degree in institutions that are themselves accredited by regional accrediting associations.
