A medical school-based GME consortium in Milwaukee.

: Consortia have been recommended as a local mechanism for allocating housestaff positions and overseeing graduate medical education (GME) training programs. They also could serve to simplify the execution of a national health care policy in the future. Such a consortium has existed in Milwaukee for the last 16 years. It involves 23 health care institutions affiliated with the Medical College of Wisconsin. Known as the Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals, Inc. (MCWAH), this consortium employs 749 housestaff, for whom it provides salary and benefits. It also ensures accreditation of all of its residency and fellowship programs and assists in providing direction and coordination for the member institutions. The authors describe the genesis and operation of the MCWAH in detail. The accomplishments of existing consortia, in Milwaukee and elsewhere, indicate that a GME consortium should enable its members to function effectively and efficiently in meeting the challenging GME training requirements of the future.