III.A. Six General Competencies

The ACGME has implemented the requirement of six general competencies into the curriculum of all accredited Programs. The competency based education Program is the core to the practice of all physicians and articulated through the ACGME Milestones for each specialty. The six competencies are responsible for defining the specific knowledge, skills, attitudes, and educational experiences required in order for their House Officers to demonstrate the following:

1. Patient care that is compassionate, appropriate, and effective for the treatment of health problems and the promotion of health.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. Interpersonal and communication skills that result in effective information exchange and teaming with patients, their families, and other health professionals.
5. Professionalism, as manifested through a commitment to professionalism and an adherence to ethical principles; accountability to patients, society, and the profession; ability to recognize and develop a plan for one's own personal and professional will being; and sensitivity to a diverse patient population.
6. Systems-based practice, as manifested by actions that demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger context and system for health care and the ability to effectively call on system resources to provide care that is of optimal value.

In addition, as Programs work to expose trainees to the six general competencies, House Officers should be mindful of this and work with the Programs to accomplish these educational objectives.