As part of OHSU's continuing efforts to offer the most comprehensive resident education possible, the Office of Graduate Medical Education is actively engaged in providing leadership and resources to integrate the ACGME competency educational model into all our residency programs' curricula. Although thoroughly describing this model concisely is difficult, it is in essence an attempt to focus our educational efforts on developing the most complete and well-rounded doctor out of every resident.

This educational model arose from the ACGME's 1999 decision to focus its review of resident education on the outcome of a program rather than on either the institution or the system itself. In order to get a more complete picture of each resident's success—and therefore of the program's success—the ACGME identified six competencies that it felt best described a physician's capability to practice medicine effectively. By evaluating residents in these six areas, listed below, programs will be better able to gauge the total progress—and competency—of each student.

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

• Patient Care that is compassionate, appropriate, and effective for the treatment of health problems and the promotion of health
  
  
• Medical 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
  
  
• Practice-Based Learning and Improvement that involves investigation and evaluation of their own patient care, appraisal and assimilation of scientific evidence, and improvements in patient care
  
  
• Interpersonal and Communication Skills that result in effective information exchange and teaming with patients, their families, and other health professionals
  
  
• Professionalism, as manifested through a commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities, adherence to ethical principles, and sensitivity to a diverse patient population
  
  
• Systems-Based Practice, as manifested by actions that 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

For more information regarding the ACGME Outcomes Project, please visit www.acgme.org/Outcome/