22 Onward and, Eventually, Upward A CHANGE IN FOCUS After the move from California to Chicago, ACOFP went back to work on its educational, representational, and organizational aims. One of the first tasks was the expansion of its educational programs. In 1958, after numerous ACOFP appeals, AOA formally recognized departments of general practice as established hospital departments. This action followed AOA’s formal acceptance of the concept of a general practice department and residency. Following formal recognition of the departments, many inequities remained as family physicians were rarely asked to be directors of departments and very little money was spent on equipment or training material. Severe restrictions were placed on admitting privileges, with surgeons and internists dictating the scope of privileges allowed to general practitioners. In February 1960, after further lobbying efforts by ACOFP, AOA removed these inequities by issuing a dictum mandating that general practice departments have the same hospital staff levels, regulations, and admitting privileges as any other hospital department. Due to this ruling, new departments of general practice were established throughout the 1960s. In late 1962, ACOFP created a panel to accredit educational programs for its members’ educational requirements. The hope was to expand the number of educational opportunities beyond the traditional programs sponsored by either ACOFP or AOA. Two years later, ACOFP decided to expand the nature of its medical education programs by establishing a preceptorship program for its student members. This month-long preceptorship offered students the opportunity to work with an experienced ACOFP member while in medical school. During the 1960s, educational conferences on both the state and national level continued to grow in number and were well attended. Programs placed an emphasis on psychiatric and psychological subjects, as well as legal issues. Toward the end of the decade, there was an increased emphasis on manipulative
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