ACGME Competencies

In September 1999 the ACGME developed minimum program requirements regarding education. They state in their mission, "The residency program must require its residents to obtain competencies in the six areas below to the level expected of a new practitioner. This section reviews in detail those competencies, how they are measured and when they are implemented. Detailed information can be retrieved from their website. 

Programs must define the specific knowledge, skills and attitudes required and provide educational experiences as needed in order for their residents to demonstrate the following:

Patient Care – Residents must be able to provide patient care that is compassionate, appropriate, and effective for the treatment of health problems and the promotion of health.

Medical Knowledge – Residents must demonstrate knowledge of established and evolving biomedical, clinical, epidemiological and social-behavioral sciences, as well as the application of this knowledge to patient care.

Practice-based Learning and Improvement – Residents must demonstrate the ability to investigate and evaluation 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.  Residents are expected to develop skills and habits to be able to meet the following goals:

  • Identify strengths, deficiencies, and limits in one’s knowledge and expertise;
  • Set learning and improvement goals;
  • Identify and perform appropriate learning activities;
  • Systematically analyze practice using quality improvement methods, and implement changes with  the goal of practice improvement;
  • Incorporate formative evaluation feedback into daily practice;
  • Locate, appraise, and assimilate evidence from scientific studies related to their patients’ health problems;
  • Use information technology to optimize learning; and, participate in the education of patients, families, students, residents and other health professionals.

 

 

Interpersonal and Communication Skills – Residents must demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in the effective exchange of information and collaboration with patients, their families, and health professionals.  Residents are expected to:

  • Communicate effectively with patients, families, and the public, as appropriate, across a broad range of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds;
  • Communicate effectively with physicians, other health professionals, and health related agencies;
  • Work effectively as a member leader of a health care team or other professional group;
  • Act in a consultative role to other physicians and health professionals; and,
  • Maintain comprehensive, timely, and legible medical records, if applicable.

Professionalism – Residents must demonstrate a commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities and an adherence to ethical principles.  Residents are expected to demonstrate:

  • Compassion, integrity, and respect for others;
  • Responsiveness to patient needs that supersedes self-interest;
  • Respect for patient privacy and autonomy;
  • Accountability to patients, society and the profession; and,
  • Sensitivity and responsiveness to a diverse patient population, including but not limited to diversity in gender, age, culture, race, religion, disabilities, and sexual orientation.

 

 

Systems-based Practice – Residents must 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.  Residents are expected to:

  • Work effectively in various health care delivery settings and systems relevant to their clinical specialty;
  • Coordinate patient care within the health care system relevant to their clinical specialty;
  • Incorporate considerations of cost awareness and risk-benefit analysis in patient and/or population-based care as appropriate;
  • Advocate for quality patient care and optimal patient care systems;
  • Work in inter-professional teams to enhance patient safety and improve patient care quality; participate in identifying system errors and implementing potential systems solutions.

The Resident Case Log System can be selected in this system to view information regarding entry of information, etc. All residents are expected to be assessed by the guidelines established by the ACGME.