Background Although considerable research on physician fellowship training program websites has demonstrated critical deficiencies in accessibility and content, there is no published study regarding the website content of physician assistant/associate (PA) and nurse practitioner (NP) orthopedic surgery postgraduate residency/fellowship programs in the United States. Therefore, this study aims to conduct a web-based content analysis to assess the available information on program websites and identify the potential areas for improvement. Methods The methodology for this study was replicated from prior research on graduate medical education (GME) websites. Twenty-two PA and joint PA/NP orthopedic surgery postgraduate residency/fellowship training program websites were assessed between August and September 2022. The criteria comprised 17 items related to postgraduate education and recruitment content. All program websites were evaluated for pertinent content relevant to prospective applicants applying to orthopedic surgery residency/fellowship programs. Descriptive statistics were performed. Results Out of the 22 PA and joint PA/NP orthopedic postgraduate websites evaluated, all had a functional website link. Only one orthopedic surgery postgraduate website met all 17 criteria. All program websites assessed contained program descriptions and contact information. Other information present on websites included program admission requirements 95% (21/22), salary/benefits 77% (17/22), interview requirement 73% (16/22), faculty listing 68% (15/22), journal club 59% (13/22), program objectives/goals 59% (13/22), and acceptance process 54% (12/22). Less than half of the program websites contained the following information: listing of current PA/NP postgraduate trainees, sample rotation schedule, orientation activities, curriculum, wellness/well-being strategy, graduation and research requirements, and link to program handbook. However, accredited PA orthopedic surgery program websites contained more content relevant to prospective applicants than non-accredited programs. Conclusion This is the first study to provide a detailed analysis of PA and joint PA/NP postgraduate orthopedic surgery residency/fellowship program websites. Not surprisingly, there is a wide variation in the available content on these websites. Study results provide further evidence to support the urgent need to improve program website content for prospective applicants.

Although there has been a rapid increase in the number of physician assistant (PA) and nurse practitioner postgraduate residency/fellowship specialty training programs in the United States, voluntary accreditation of these programs is a relatively new phenomenon. There is little research examining which factors may be predictors of accreditation adoption among PA and nurse practitioner (NP) postgraduate programs. Therefore, the primary aim of this study was to investigate which motivating factors influence postgraduate programs choice on whether to pursue accreditation. Methodology A descriptive cross-sectional survey consisting of 10 questions was distributed to 56 postgraduate emergency medicine and orthopedic surgery PA, NP, and joint PA/NP residency/fellowship programs via email between November 2022 and February 2023. Descriptive statistics were performed. Results Nineteen postgraduate programs responded to the survey. Two programs submitted incomplete surveys where less than 50% of the total items were completed. The partially completed surveys were omitted from the data analysis. The final response rate was 30% (17/56). Among the responded programs, 47% (8/17) offer dual PA and NP training, and 53% (9/17) are PA only. Although 88% (15/17) of postgraduate programs have discussed accreditation funding with their sponsoring institution only 76% are planning to do so or are in the process of pursuing accreditation. The two most common reasons for pursuing accreditation are program validation and assessment of educational quality 59% (10/17) and competition for applicants 24% (4/17). However, Magnet hospital designation, requirement of the sponsoring institution, or demand from employers were not determining factors of whether to pursue accreditation or not. Reasons for not pursuing accreditation included high costs of accreditation 18% (3/17), lack of perceived value of accreditation 6% (1/17), and lack of protected time to pursue accreditation 6% (1/17). Conclusion Although literature is still lacking on the effectiveness and impact of PA and NP postgraduate program accreditation, the findings of this rare study indicate that postgraduate programs are motivated to pursue accreditation. It is important for accreditors to communicate the utility of program-level accreditation and other value-added benefits to programs and their sponsoring institutions. Further work is necessary to better understand the value of external validation, specific drivers for validation, and barriers that influence accreditation adoption among these postgraduate programs.