Overview of CAAM-HP

BACKGROUND TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CAAM-HP

In the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), modern medical training began at the foundation of University College of the West Indies (then a constituent part of the University of London) in 1948 and from 1962 an independent entity, the University of the West Indies (UWI). Other medical schools had been established in member countries of the Caribbean common market -CARICOM - since 1974. Accreditation of the medical education programmes established in the current and former British colonies was formerly carried out by the General Medical Council (GMC) of the United Kingdom (UK). However in 2001, the GMC discontinued this practise of accrediting overseas institutions in keeping with the European Union (EU) regulations regarding academic and professional training programmes.

In the period of the 1970s and after, there has been a significant increase in the number of ‘offshore’ medical schools in the region. These schools were termed ‘offshore’ as they were primarily established by companies out of the USA and designed for a largely American clientele who could not obtain admission to ‘onshore’ schools in the USA.

In 1989 the UWI developed as part of its Medical Sciences programme schools in Dentistry and Veterinary Science and since then other ‘offshore’ schools of Dental and Veterinary Medicine have been established in the region.

With the GMC no longer able to accredit schools outside of the UK a void was left in accreditation of Caribbean medical schools by an internationally recognised body. For medical schools and other health professions schools in the Caribbean Community to remain attractive to regional and international students their programmes should be recognised to be of an international standard both at home and abroad. In response to these developments and with the realisation that the time had come for the establishment of a Caribbean medical education accreditation body, the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and other Health Professions (CAAM-HP) was established in 2003 to assure that this aim could be realised.

The establishment of CAAM-HP under the aegis of CARICOM came as an integral component of the regional thrust to ensure quality education and training in the context of the CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME). The CSME entails the removal of restrictions on the cross border movement of skilled persons in CARICOM countries inter alia, and without discriminatory access to the region’s resources for CARICOM nationals. When physicians can move freely amongst countries within the region, it is imperative that the quality of their education and training has been assured, underscoring the importance of an accreditation authority such as CAAM-HP. The Caribbean people expect their professionals to be of no less a standard than those trained in the North America or the UK so it was decided that avenues should be explored to ensure affiliations, linkages and connections with other accrediting bodies to ensure international recognition of the accrediting authority. As such, the authority has looked at the standards of the Medical, Dental and Veterinary accreditation authorities in the UK as well as those of the USA and Canada and has developed standards comparable to those bodies, to ensure regional and international acceptance of the qualifications of persons trained in medicine and the other health professions at participating universities in the region.

CAAM-HP is funded by CARICOM member states whose governments are signatories to the agreement establishing the Authority.

CARICOM Member States are: Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, St. Kitts & Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & The Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad& Tobago, British Virgin Islands and Turks & Caicos Islands.

SCOPE AND RESPONSIBILITY

The CAAM-HP is established to accredit medical, dental, veterinary and other health professions education programmes leading to professional degrees required for practise in CARICOM member states. However, if asked, consideration would be given to requests for accreditation from schools located in non-CARICOM Member States.

RECOGNITION

The CAAM-HP is recognised by the participating countries as the agency for accreditation of educational programmes for qualifying degrees in Medicine, Veterinary Medicine and Dental Medicine. The CAAM-HP is empowered to determine and prescribe standards and to accredit programmes of medical, dental and veterinary education on behalf of the contracting parties in CARICOM. The CAAM-HP will make its own final decisions about accreditation status.

MEMBERSHIP

The membership of the CAAM-HP (with current members) is as follows:

  1. three (3) persons nominated jointly by academic institutions in the Community offering training in medicine (other than dental medicine and veterinary medicine):
    • Dr. Carl Hanoman, Director, University of Guyana School of Medicine
    • Professor Samuel Ramsewak, Dean, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, St. Augustine Campus
    • Dr. Ruben del Prado, University of Suriname, Faculty of Medical Sciences;
  2. one (1) person nominated jointly by academic institutions in the Community offering training in dental medicine:
    • Dr. J. Ebenezer Scipio, School of Dental Medicine, University of the West Indies;
  3. one (1) person nominated jointly by academic institutions in the Community offering training in veterinary medicine:
    • Dr. Winthrop Harewood, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of the West Indies;
  4. two (2) persons nominated jointly by regional organisations representing civil society:
    • Professor the Hon Errol R. Walrond, Chairman of the Authority
    • Mr. Leroy Gibbs;
  5. two (2) students enrolled in training programmes in medicine at academic institutions in the Community and nominated by the institutions:
    • Mr. Shabier St. John, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus
    • Mr. Gerard Martins, University of Guyana;
  6. two (2) persons from outside the region who have expertise in the accreditation of training programmes in medicine or other health professions:
    • Dr. Jordan Cohen, George Washington University and President Emeritus, Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC)
    • Professor Peter Rubin, University of Nottingham and Chairman of the General Medical Council (GMC);
  7. one person representing the Caribbean Association of Medical Councils (CAMC):
    • Dr. Trevor McCartney, Chairman of CAMC;
  8. three (3) representatives, each appointed by a Contracting Party selected by the Secretary-General on a rotational basis:
    • Dr. Rudolf Cummings, Programme Manager, Health Sector Development, CARICOM Secretariat
    • Dr. Marthelise Eersel, Chief Medical Officer, Suriname
    • Dr. Joy St. John, Chief Medical Officer, Barbados;
  9. the Executive Director, who shall be an ex-officio member: Mrs. Lorna Parkins.
  10. where the Authority specifies which professions are to be treated as other health professions, membership of the Authority shall be extended to include:–
    1. two (2) persons nominated jointly by academic institutions offering training in other health professions in the Community;
    2. two (2) students enrolled in training programmes in other health professions in institutions in the Community nominated jointly by those institutions.
    The CAAM-HP is now treating with Veterinary Medicine and as such, membership of the Authority has been extended to include:
    1. two (2) persons nominated jointly by academic institutions offering training in veterinary medicine in the Community:
      • Dr. Lisa Lunn, Lecturer, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University
      • Professor Abiodun Adesiyun, Director, School of Veterinary Medicine, UWI, St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago;
    2. two (2) students enrolled in training programmes in veterinary medicine in institutions in the Community nominated jointly by those institutions:
      • Ms. Rhiannon Bridglalsingh, School of Veterinary Medicine, UWI, St. Augustine Campus, Trinidad and Tobago
      • Mr. Randall Trzaska, School of Veterinary Medicine, St. George’s University

The CAAM-HP Secretariat is responsible for appointing survey teams on an ad hoc basis. The composition of a survey team is determined by the characteristics of the school to be visited. The Secretariat includes a representative cross-section of basic science and clinical educators and medical practitioners in each ad hoc survey team. Survey teams include one member of the CAAM-HP or of the Secretariat.

At present, the activities of the CAAM-HP are administered by a small Secretariat headed by an Executive Director with headquarters in Kingston, Jamaica.

OVERVIEW OF ACCREDITATION

Through accreditation, the CAAM-HP provides assurance to medical, dental and veterinary students, graduates, the medical, dental and veterinary professions, healthcare institutions and the public that undergraduate programmes leading to qualifications in medicine, dentistry and veterinary medicine meet appropriate national and international standards for educational quality, and that the graduates have a sufficiently complete and valid educational experience. Accreditation standards and the general policies of the CAAM-HP are described in Standards for the Accreditation of Medical, Dental, and Veterinary Schools in the Caribbean Community, available from the CAAM-HP secretariat office.

Programmes judged by the CAAM-HP to meet the standards of quality are designated as Accredited for a term of up to six years. Programmes judged to be not in substantial compliance with CAAM-HP standards are designated as accredited on 'Probation'. Programmes on probation that on review fail to meet the appropriate standards, or those never applying for accreditation, are considered 'Not Accredited'. Approved new programmes under development and those applying for accreditation and not meeting all of the standards are designated as 'Provisionally Accredited'.

TERM OF ACCREDITATION

An educational programme once accredited, remains accredited until the CAAM-HP terminates the programme formally or the programme itself terminates its accreditation status. If it is brought to the attention of the CAAM-HP that an accredited programme has ceased to exist and has not formally terminated its accreditation status, the secretariat should investigate the matter and report on the matter as soon as possible.

Accreditation does not end merely because a certain period of time has passed. Programmes typically are subject to review on a six-year cycle. The CAAM-HP may determine that an earlier review is necessary, in which case the accreditation status does not change until a formal action is taken by the CAAM-HP.

WITHDRAWAL OF ACCREDITATION

In the event that the CAAM-HP determines that accreditation should be withdrawn, the letter transmitting that decision will specify the date at which accreditation ceases. Withdrawal or other determinations other than full accreditation may be appealed using the procedures described in Appendix F 'Appeal Procedure related to Accreditation Status' of the Procedures of the Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and Other Health Professions.

CONFIDENTIALITY GUIDELINES

CAAM-HP members, staff, and surveyors must sign a statement agreeing to treat as confidential any information they receive or generate in connection with accreditation activities.
ADVISORY
The Caribbean Accreditation Authority for Education in Medicine and Other Health Professions (CAAM-HP) has been made aware of claims that its Standards are being used by other accreditation bodies to evaluate medical education programmes located in their countries.

CAAM-HP wishes to make it clear that such accreditation exercises CANNOT be interpreted to mean that the CAAM-HP has accredited or approved these programmes. The programmes assessed and accredited by the CAAM-HP, with its independent international mechanisms, are listed on CAAM-HP’s web site.

Any further enquiries or uncertainty about the validity of accreditation exercises claiming the approval of CAAM-HP should be directed to the CAAM-HP Secretariat.

Dated: September 9, 2009