Patient Care

Competency
Provide patient care that is compassionate, appropriate, and effective for the treatment of health problems and the promotion of health.

Objectives

1. Perform all medical, diagnostic, and surgical procedures considered essential for the area of practice
2. Gather essential and accurate information about patients and their condition through history-taking, physical examination, and the use of laboratory data, imaging and other tests
3. Interpret laboratory data, imaging studies, and other tests required for the area of practice
4. Make informed decisions about diagnostic and therapeutic interventions based on patient information and preferences, up-to-date scientific evidence, and clinical judgment
5. Develop and carry out patient management plans
6. Counsel and educate patients and their families to empower them to participate in their care, showing consideration for their perspective throughout treatment
7. Provide appropriate referral of patients including ensuring continuity of care throughout transitions between providers or settings, and following up on patient progress and outcomes
8. Provide health care services to patients, families, and communities aimed at preventing health problems or maintaining health

Knowledge for Practice

Competency
Demonstrate knowledge of established and evolving biomedical, clinical, epidemiological and social-behavioral sciences, as well as the application of this knowledge to patient care.

Objectives

1. Demonstrate an investigatory and analytic approach to clinical situations
2. Apply established and emerging bio-physical scientific principles fundamental to health care for patients and populations
3. Apply established and emerging principles of clinical sciences to diagnostic and therapeutic decision- making, clinical problem-solving, and other aspects of evidence-based health care
4. Apply principles of epidemiological sciences to the identification of health problems, risk factors, treatment strategies, resources, and disease prevention/health promotion efforts for patients and populations
5. Apply principles of social-behavioral sciences to provision of patient care, including assessment of the impact of psychosocial-cultural influences on health, disease, care-seeking, care-compliance, barriers to and attitudes toward care
6. Contribute to the creation, dissemination, application, and translation of new health care knowledge and practices

Practice-Based Learning and Improvement

Competency
Demonstrate the ability to investigate and evaluate their care of patients, to appraise and assimilate scientific evidence, and to continuously improve patient care based on constant self-evaluation and life-long learning

Objectives

1. Identify strengths, deficiencies, and limits in one’s knowledge and expertise
2. Set learning and improvement goals
3. Identify and perform learning activities that address one’s gaps in knowledge, skills or attitudes
4. Incorporate feedback into learning activities
5. Locate, appraise, and assimilate evidence from scientific studies related to patients’ health problems
6. Use information technology to optimize learning
7. Participate in the education of patients, families, students, trainees, peers and other health professionals

Interpersonal and Communication Skills

Competency
Demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in the effective exchange of information and collaboration with patients, their families, and health professionals

Objectives

1. Communicate effectively with patients, families, and the public, as appropriate, across a broad range of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds
2. Communicate effectively with colleagues within one’s profession or specialty, other health professionals, and health related agencies
3. Work effectively with others as a member or leader of a health care team or other professional group
4. Demonstrate sensitivity, honesty, and compassion in difficult conversations about issues such as death, end-of-life issues, adverse events, bad news, disclosure of errors, and other sensitive topics
5. Demonstrate insight and understanding about emotions and human responses to emotions that allow one to develop and manage interpersonal interactions.

Systems-Based Practice

Competency
Demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger context and system of health care, as well as the ability to call effectively on other resources in the system to provide optimal health care

Objectives

1. Work effectively in various health care delivery settings and systems relevant to their clinical specialty
2. Coordinate patient care within the health care system relevant to their clinical specialty
3. Advocate for quality patient care and optimal patient care systems
4. Perform administrative and practice management responsibilities commensurate with one’s roles, abilities and qualifications.

Professionalism

Competency
Demonstrate a commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities and an adherence to ethical principles.

Objectives

1. Demonstrate compassion, honesty, integrity, and respect for others
2. Demonstrate responsiveness to patient needs that supersedes self-interest
3. Demonstrate respect for patient privacy and autonomy
4. Demonstrate accountability to patients, society, and the profession
5. Demonstrate sensitivity and responsiveness to all patients in a diverse population
6. Demonstrate a commitment to ethical principles pertaining to provision or withholding of care, confidentiality, informed consent, and business practices, including compliance with relevant laws, policies, and regulations