ACGME - Outcome Modules

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Summary

Practice-based Learning and Improvement

Residents must demonstrate the ability to investigate and evaluate their care of patients, to appraise and assimilate scientific evidence, and to continuously improve patient care based on constant self-evaluation and life-long learning. Residents are expected to develop skills and habits to be able to meet the following goals:

identify strengths, deficiencies, and limits in one’s knowledge and expertise
set learning and improvement goals
identify and perform appropriate learning activities
systematically analyze practice, using quality improvement methods, and implement changes with the goal of practice improvement
incorporate formative evaluation feedback into daily practice
locate, appraise, and assimilate evidence from scientific studies related to their patients’ health problems
use information technology to optimize learning
participate in the education of patients, families, students, residents and other health professionals

[as further specified by the RC]

Key Components

Residents must take primary responsibility for life long learning and their own practice improvement, such as:
- learning basic steps and techniques in quality improvement
- using information technology to acquire new knowledge
- analyzing the quality of care that their patients receive within the context of the their patient population as well as understanding the context of the larger population of patients
Appraisal and assimilation of the scientific literature (EBM), such as:
- using scientific studies to inform decisions about diagnosis or care
- critically evaluating scientific studies and determining their applicability to patient care
- using information technology.
Implementing improvement by:
- using a quality improvement activity (i.e. Plan-Do-Study-Act cycle) to improve patient care
- disseminating results of successful quality improvement projects to the larger community
Actively participate in the education of patients and their families, medical students, residents and other health professionals