Northwest Suburban College
Assessing Capacity for Illinois’ Proposed Osteopathic Medical School
The Challenge
Northwest Suburban College sought to determine whether the local and tri-state region had sufficient clinical teaching capacity to support a proposed College of Osteopathic Medicine (COM). Before pursuing COCA accreditation, the college needed a clear, data-driven understanding of available clinical sites, existing partnerships, and the region’s ability to sustain osteopathic medical education.
How We Helped
Tripp Umbach evaluated clinical teaching bed capacity and existing affiliations by analyzing databases, institutional information, and conducting stakeholder interviews. This assessment provided the foundational data needed for the region to determine readiness for the COM and prepare for accreditation under Commission on Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA).
The Impact
The study concluded that the region possesses sufficient clinical teaching capacity and established partnerships to support the proposed osteopathic medical school. These findings give Northwest Suburban College clear insight into the next steps required to pursue the COM, aligning education and health-care workforce needs in the region.