Program Evaluation Committee (PEC)
A required committee responsible for overseeing program quality, conducting the annual program evaluation, and driving continuous improvement.
Definition
The Program Evaluation Committee (PEC) is an ACGME-required committee that oversees the quality and effectiveness of the educational program. The PEC must include faculty and at least one resident. It is responsible for conducting the Annual Program Evaluation (APE), reviewing program outcomes data, identifying areas for improvement, and developing action plans. The PEC's work feeds directly into the program's self-study.
Why it matters for your program
The PEC is distinct from the CCC — while the CCC focuses on individual resident performance, the PEC focuses on program-level quality. Many programs conflate the two or have PECs that exist on paper but don't function as intended. A properly functioning PEC with documented meeting minutes, data-driven analysis, and clear action plans is a significant strength during accreditation reviews.
Related terms
ACGME Accreditation
The formal process by which the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education evaluates and recognizes residency and fellowship programs.
Self-Study
A required, ongoing process of program evaluation and improvement that forms the foundation of ACGME's next accreditation system.
Annual Program Evaluation (APE)
A required yearly review of a residency or fellowship program's performance, conducted by the Program Evaluation Committee.
Clinical Competency Committee (CCC)
A required committee responsible for reviewing resident and fellow performance and making milestone determinations semiannually.
Related Service
ACGME Compliance Consulting
Ashley Wood, PhD helps programs navigate program evaluation committee (pec) requirements with director-level expertise from HCA Healthcare and Vanderbilt.
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