LSU Health New Orleans Medical School Earns Maximum Accreditation

LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine received formal notification from the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) that it received full accreditation for the maximum period of 8 years. Jointly sponsored by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and the American Medical Association (AMA), the LCME is the accrediting body for programs leading to the M.D. degree in the United States.

According to the LCME, “LCME accreditation is a voluntary, peer-reviewed process of quality assurance that determines whether the medical education program meets established standards. Programs are required to demonstrate that their graduates exhibit general professional competencies that are appropriate for entry to the next stage of their training and that serve as the foundation for lifelong learning and proficient medical care. Most state boards of licensure require that U.S. medical schools granting the MD degree be accredited by the LCME as a condition for licensure of their graduates. Eligibility of U.S. students in MD-granting schools 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).”

It took more than two years to prepare for the site visit. More than 250 people participated, including full-time faculty, medical students, residents, alumni, administrative staff, and representatives from our clinical partners. The school submitted more than 2,500 pages of documents to demonstrate its compliance with the LCME accreditation standards. These standards address curriculum, student services, faculty, governance and leadership, teaching facilities, clinical facilities, and finances.

“The LCME commended the dean's leadership, the collegial atmosphere between students, faculty and administration, the strong commitment of our clinical partners, and our excellent educational facilities,” says Richard DiCarlo, MD, Senior Associate Dean for Faculty and Institutional Affairs at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, who led the re-accreditation effort. “They were again impressed with the Learning Center, and they were newly impressed with the Medical Education and Innovation Center in Baton Rouge.”

LCME accreditation is a rigorous process whose outcome is far from certain.

“Over the last two years, the LCME has not given full accreditation to a substantial number of the medical schools that underwent review,” notes Steve Nelson, MD, Dean of LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine. “They gave many schools a warning and placed several on probation. Our success is a testament to stable and respected leadership of the Health Sciences Center, a highly dedicated faculty and staff, engaged students, and a strong commitment to the school's mission from our clinical partners.”