Effective July 1, 2021, DIOs must oversee submissions of the Annual Update for each program in the Accreditation Data System (ADS). To facilitate this oversight, the ACGME has provided a tool in ADS that allows DIOs and Institutional Coordinators to review, approve, or return programs’ Annual Update back to the program director with suggested changes. Recognizing that sponsoring institutions are learning to use the tool with their programs’ 2021 updates, the IRC will not review Sponsoring Institution’s compliance with this requirement (I.A.5.b).(2)) in the 2021-2022 accreditation cycle.
Currently, the tool works as follows:
- The program director completes and submits the Annual Update.
- The DIO and Institutional Coordinators receive an email from donotreply@acgme.org to review the submission, log into ADS and from the left-hand navigation menu, under Sponsored Programs, click Approve Annual Updates.
- The DIO and Institutional Coordinators may select Approve or Return to Program Director for Clarification.
- If the program Annual Update is approved, nothing further needs to occur. If returned, the program director must resubmit, and the DIO and Institutional Coordinator would need to re-review.
The following are some tips regarding use of the tool:
- Annual Update submissions and DIO feedback should be provided with enough time to allow for review and revision as needed. DIO approval must be documented prior to the program’s due date.
- Once DIO approval is given, ADS does not have an option for the DIO to change the selection. In such cases, the DIO should contact program director directly to suggest changes.
- The review process does not lock the information in the Annual Update. The DIO will see the program’s information in real time. If the Annual Update is returned with feedback, the program must make the required revisions and resubmit it for the DIO’s review and approval.