ACGME General Competencies
At its February 1999 meeting, the ACGME endorsed general competencies for
residents in the areas of:
Identification of general competencies is the first step in a long-term
effort designed to emphasize educational outcome assessment in residency
programs and in the accreditation process. During the next several years, the
ACGME’s Residency Review and Institutional Review Committees will incorporate
the general competencies into their Requirements. The following statements will
be used as a basis for future Requirements language. If you have any questions,
comments and other requests for assistance, please address them to
outcomes@acgme.org.
The residency program must require its residents to develop the competencies
in the 6 areas below to the level expected of a new practitioner. Toward this
end, programs must define the specific knowledge, skills, and attitudes required
and provide educational experiences as needed in order for their residents to
demonstrate the competencies.
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. Residents are expected to:
 | communicate effectively and demonstrate caring and respectful behaviors
when interacting with patients and their families |
| gather essential and accurate information about their patients |
| make informed decisions about diagnostic and therapeutic interventions
based on patient information and preferences, up-to-date scientific evidence,
and clinical judgment |
| develop and carry out patient management plans |
| counsel and educate patients and their families |
| use information technology to support patient care decisions and patient
education |
| perform competently all medical and invasive procedures considered
essential for the area of practice |
| provide health care services aimed at preventing health problems or
maintaining health |
| work with health care professionals, including those from other
disciplines, to provide patient-focused care |
MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE
Residents must demonstrate knowledge about established and evolving
biomedical, clinical, and cognate (e.g. epidemiological and social-behavioral)
sciences and the application of this knowledge to patient care. Residents are
expected to:
| demonstrate an investigatory and analytic thinking approach to clinical
situations |
| know and apply the basic and clinically supportive sciences which are
appropriate to their discipline |
PRACTICE-BASED LEARNING
AND IMPROVEMENT
Residents must be able to investigate and evaluate their patient care
practices, appraise and assimilate scientific evidence, and improve their
patient care practices. Residents are expected to:
| analyze practice experience and perform practice-based improvement
activities using a systematic methodology |
| locate, appraise, and assimilate evidence from scientific studies related
to their patients’ health problems |
| obtain and use information about their own population of patients and the
larger population from which their patients are drawn |
| apply knowledge of study designs and statistical methods to the appraisal
of clinical studies and other information on diagnostic and therapeutic
effectiveness |
| use information technology to manage information, access on-line medical
information; and support their own education |
| facilitate the learning of students and other health care professionals
|
INTERPERSONAL AND
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Residents must be able to demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills
that result in effective information exchange and teaming with patients, their
patients families, and professional associates. Residents are expected to:
| create and sustain a therapeutic and ethically sound relationship with
patients |
| use effective listening skills and elicit and provide information using
effective nonverbal, explanatory, questioning, and writing skills |
| work effectively with others as a member or leader of a health care team
or other professional group |
PROFESSIONALISM
Residents must demonstrate a commitment to carrying out professional
responsibilities, adherence to ethical principles, and sensitivity to a diverse
patient population. Residents are expected to:
| demonstrate respect, compassion, and integrity; a responsiveness to the
needs of patients and society that supercedes self-interest; accountability to
patients, society, and the profession; and a commitment to excellence and
on-going professional development |
| demonstrate a commitment to ethical principles pertaining to provision or
withholding of clinical care, confidentiality of patient information, informed
consent, and business practices |
| demonstrate sensitivity and responsiveness to patients’ culture, age,
gender, and disabilities |
SYSTEMS-BASED PRACTICE
Residents must demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger
context and system of health care and the ability to effectively call on system
resources to provide care that is of optimal value. Residents are expected to:
| understand how their patient care and other professional practices affect
other health care professionals, the health care organization, and the larger
society and how these elements of the system affect their own practice |
| know how types of medical practice and delivery systems differ from one
another, including methods of controlling health care costs and allocating
resources |
| practice cost-effective health care and resource allocation that does not
compromise quality of care |
| advocate for quality patient care and assist patients in dealing with
system complexities |
| know how to partner with health care managers and health care providers to
assess, coordinate, and improve health care and know how these activities can
affect system performance |
Source:
ACGME
GENERAL COMPETENCIES Vers. 1.3 (9.28.99)
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