AAAAI Modules

Resources Relevant to the Implementation
of Core ACGME-Required Competencies

Module IV
Professionalism
Module overview

Competency

The ACGME’s Program Requirements for Residency Education in Allergy and Immunology define the competency of professionalism as, “manifested through a commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities, adherence to ethical principles, and sensitivity to a diverse patient population.”

The ACGME further defines a set of Allergy and immunology-specific competencies. These competencies are subsets of the core competencies and as such, may be considered embedded in them. The A/I-specific competencies that may relate to professionalism include the requirements to:
• “ Counsel and educate patients about diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment .
• Design, conduct, write, and present research in either laboratory-based or clinical investigation in allergy and/or immunology.”

The ACGME also defines a set of personal and professional competencies. These competencies are subsets of the core competencies and as such, may be considered embedded in them. The personal and professional competencies that may be related to professionalism include the requirements to:

• Residents should demonstrate caring, altruistic, and compassionate behavior.
• Residents should demonstrate honesty, integrity, and professionalism in relating to patients and other healthcare providers.
• Residents should demonstrate acceptance of the need for a lifelong pursuit of excellence, self-directed learning, and continuing education.
• Residents should demonstrate ethical management of real and perceived conflicts of interest.

The Quadrad Report further amplifies the competency of professionalism by listing required skills, example components, and evaluation methods, as follows:

Required Skill	Example Components	Evaluation Method
Respect, altruism	Accept responsibility for continuity of patient care; respect patient’s privacy and autonomy	Patient satisfaction questionnaire OR 360 Global rating evaluation OR Checklist evaluation
Ethically sound practice	Consistently demonstrate high standards of ethical behavior	360 Global rating evaluation OR Patient satisfaction questionnaire
Sensitivity	Demonstrate respect for the dignity of patients and colleagues as persons, including their age, culture, disabilities, ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation	360 Global rating evaluation OR Patient satisfaction questionnaire OR Checklist evaluation

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Goals & objectives

The following goals and objectives for professionalism have been articulated by A/I training program directors:

I. Demonstrates respectful, altruistic behavior through:
     A. teamwork
     B. decorum
     C. self-presentation
     D. flexibility
     E. respect for peers, patients, and staff

II. Demonstrates ethically sound judgment and practice through:
     A. maintaining confidentiality
     B. honesty/integrity
          1. for example, no documented ethical violations in a system which documents such events
     C. realization of one’s personal limitations
          1. for example, asking for help as appropriate

III. Exhibits sensitivity to culture, age, gender, disability, etc.
     A. for example, requests and uses interpreters as available and appropriate

IV. Commitment to lifelong learning
     A. for example, participation in journal club, formal presentations, etc.

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