Educational Program Objectives
University of Minnesota Medical School
Graduates of the University of Minnesota Medical School should be able to:
| Objective | Outcome Measures | ACGME Essential Competency |
|---|---|---|
1) Demonstrate mastery of key concepts and principles in the basic sciences and clinical disciplines that are the basis of current and future medical practice. |
|
Medical Knowledge |
2) Demonstrate mastery of key concepts and principles of other sciences and humanities that apply to current and future medical practice, including epidemiology, biostatistics, healthcare delivery and finance, ethics, human behavior, nutrition, preventive medicine, and the cultural contexts of medical care. |
|
Medical Knowledge |
3) Competently gather and present in oral and written form relevant patient information through the performance of a complete history and physical examination. |
|
Patient Care; Interpersonal and Communication Skills |
4) Competently establish a doctor-patient relationship that facilitates patients’ abilities to effectively contribute to the decision making and management of their own health maintenance and disease treatment. |
|
Patient Care; Interpersonal and Communication Skills |
| 5) Competently diagnose and manage common medical problems in patients. |
|
Medical Knowledge; Patient Care |
6) Assist in the diagnosis and management of uncommon medical problems; and, through knowing the limits of her/his own knowledge, adequately determine the need for referral. |
|
Medical Knowledge; Patient Care; Practice-Based Learning and Improvement |
7) Begin to individualize care through integration of knowledge from the basic sciences, clinical disciplines, evidence-based medicine, and population-based medicine with specific information about the patient and patient’s life situation. |
|
Patient Care; Medical Knowledge; Interpersonal and Communication Skills; Professionalism |
8) Demonstrate competence practicing in ambulatory and hospital settings, effectively working with other health professionals in a team approach toward integrative care. |
|
Practice-Based Learning and Improvement; Systems-Based Practice |
9) Demonstrate basic understanding of health systems and how physicians can work effectively in health care organizations, including:
|
|
Practice-Based Learning and Improvement; Systems-Based Practice |
10) Competently evaluate and manage medical information. |
|
Patient Care; Medical Knowledge; Practice-Based Learning and Improvement; Systems-Based Practice |
11) Uphold and demonstrate in action/practice basic precepts of the medical profession: altruism, respect, compassion, honesty, integrity and confidentiality. |
|
Professionalism |
12) Exhibit the beginning of a pattern of continuous learning and self-care through self-directed learning and systematic reflection on their experiences. |
|
Professionalism |
13) Demonstrate a basic understanding of the healthcare needs of society and a commitment to contribute to society both in the medical field and in the broader contexts of society needs. |
|
Patient Care; Medical Knowledge; Practice-Based Learning and Improvement; Professionalism; Systems-Based Practice |
These objectives are written to reflect the qualities and competencies expected of our graduates. Each objective specifies the expected competency level to be attained by our students, the outcome measures used to evaluate attainment of the objective, and the essential qualities and competencies of a physician (as defined by the six ACGME Essential Competencies) addressed by the objective. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) has formulated essential competencies felt to be necessary for physicians practicing in the current health care climate. They are:
- 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 optimal patient care
The objectives for the undergraduate curriculum can be grouped as follows:
Objectives 1-3: Knowledge and skills addressed principally in the first two (preclinical) curricular years;
Objectives 4-9: Knowledge and skills addressed principally in the second two (clinical) curricular years;
Objectives 10-13: Knowledge, attitudes, and skills addressed throughout the curriculum.
The objectives, which relate to the ACGME essential competencies, are designed to be modified for use also by the graduate (GME) programs at the University of Minnesota Medical School. Residency programs can modify the competency level stated in the objectives and the outcome measures to reflect their own programs, while maintaining the overall integration of basic learning objectives across undergraduate and graduate medical education.
One of the primary outcome measures for the objectives is clinical rotation performance. To expand on this; clinical rotation performance is assessed by attending physicians and residents using a Web-based global rating form, evaluating the following knowledge, competencies, skills, and attitudes:
- Medical knowledge and the ability to apply knowledge in clinical situations
- Competency in patient care including communication and relationships with patients/families
- Skills in data gathering from the history, physical examination, clinical and academic sources, and diagnostic tests
- Assessment and prioritization of problems
- Management of problems, including knowledge of patient data and progress
- Appropriate decision making
- Communication in written and oral reports
- Professionalism, including: patient care and management in teams (work habits), independent learning, personal characteristics, and commitment to medicine
- Specific procedural skills (see report outlining Competencies Required for Graduation)
Ratified by Education Council 2/18/03
