SSOM Competencies
Stritch School of Medicine Competencies
Within these eight competency domains lare the knowledge, attitudes, skills and personal and professional values we expect of all Stritch graduates.
1. Medical Knowledge
A graduate of Stritch School of Medicine is expected to:
Demonstrate knowledge of established and evolving biomedical, clinical, epidemiological and social-behavioral sciences, and the application of this knowledge to patient care.
This includes the ability to:
| 1.1 | Demonstrate knowledge of the normal development, structure, and function of the human body including the mechanisms important to maintaining homeostasis. |
| 1.2 | Describe the principal underlying causes, mechanisms and processes involved in the etiology of the major human disorders and conditions, and apply this knowledge to the prevention, diagnosis, management, and prognosis of disease. |
| 1.3 | Describe the principles of pharmacology and the clinical use of both pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment approaches; and apply this knowledge to select and design the most appropriate preventative, curative and/or palliative therapeutic strategies for the management of clinical conditions and diseases. |
| 1.4 | Explain the basic principles of human behavior over the life-span, and recognize key changes and developmental milestones that occur during infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood and end-of-life. |
| 1.5 | Apply the principles of the social and behavioral sciences to explain the impact of economic, psychosocial, spiritual, and cultural influences, on health, disease, care plan adherence, and healthcare disparities. |
| 1.6 | Demonstrate an understanding of how the epidemiologic sciences are used in the promotion of health and prevention of disease. |
| 1.7 | Demonstrate an understanding of the design, conduct and analysis of basic biomedical, clinical and translational research. |
2. Patient Care
A graduate of Stritch School of Medicine is expected to:
Provide patient-centered care that is compassionate, appropriate, and effective for the treatment of health problems and the promotion of health.
This includes the ability to:
| 2.1 | Gather information and provide accurate documentation about patients and their conditions through history taking, physical examination, and interpretation of diagnostic testing. |
| 2.2 | Apply critical thinking and clinical reasoning skills to develop a prioritized differential diagnosis. |
| 2.3 | Develop patient evaluation and management plans utilizing pertinent patient information, best practices, and appropriate clinical judgment across care settings. |
| 2.4 | Demonstrate the ability to perform clinical and procedural skills to provide basic patient care under the appropriate level of supervision. |
| 2.5 | Apply communication skills to help guide patients and their families in shared decision making. |
| 2.6 | Apply the principles of health promotion and screening for disease to the care of patients. |
| 2.7 | Utilize electronic health records to provide effective patient care. |
3. Interpersonal and Communication Skills
A graduate of Stritch School of Medicine is expected to:
Demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in the effective exchange of information and collaboration with patients, their families, and health professionals across the broad range of identities and socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.
This includes the ability to:
| 3.1 | Provide accurate, pertinent, concise and well-organized oral presentations of clinical encounters. |
| 3.2 | Communicate effectively when counseling and educating patients and families. |
| 3.3 | Communicate effectively with peers and other health care professionals, including during transitions of care. |
| 3.4 | Create and maintain comprehensive and accurate medical records, avoiding reliance on the unreflective use or reproduction of prior entries. |
| 3.5 | Demonstrate empathy, sensitivity, transparency, and compassion in interpersonal interactions. |
| 3.6 | Participate in the education of peers and other health professionals. |
4. Practice-Based Learning and Improvement
A graduate of Stritch School of Medicine is expected to:
Demonstrate the ability to investigate and evaluate their care of patients, to appraise and assimilate scientific evidence, and to improve patient care based on continuous reflection, self-evaluation and life-long learning.
This includes the ability to:
| 4.1 | Evaluate one's performance to identify strengths and personal limitations in knowledge, skills, behaviors and/or attitudes. |
| 4.2 | Set individual learning and improvement goals to address deficiencies and actively engage in appropriate activities to meet those goals. |
| 4.3 | Obtain formative help and advice, where appropriate, from supervisors, advisors, mentors, peers, and relevant support services, and use feedback to positively modify personal performance and behavior. |
| 4.4 | Demonstrate curiosity, objectivity, and an analytic approach to clinical situations, identifying reliable strategies for sustaining these processes throughout one's professional career. |
| 4.5 | Demonstrate an ability to identify, objectively evaluate and apply in practice information from emerging basic biomedical, clinical, and translational research to patient care. |
5. Professionalism
A graduate of Stritch School of Medicine is expected to:
Demonstrate a commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities and an adherence to ethical principles.
This includes the ability to:
| 5.1 | Demonstrate self-respect and respect for others at all times. |
| 5.2 | Demonstrate integrity and personal accountability in fulfilling, in a complete and timely manner, all obligations and expectations related to one’s designated professional role. |
| 5.3 | Demonstrate respect for patients and responsiveness to their needs, including privacy and autonomy. |
| 5.4 | Demonstrate sensitivity and respect to the diverse backgrounds, identities and experiences of patients and colleagues. |
| 5.5 | Demonstrate understanding of ethical principles pertaining to the provision of care. |
| 5.6 | Recognize and report unethical and impaired behavior of members of the health care team, including peers. |
6. Systems Based Practice
A graduate of Stritch School of Medicine is expected to:
Demonstrate awareness of and responsiveness to the larger context and evolving state of health care delivery and an ability to effectively engage resources within the system to optimize delivery of care to patients and populations.
This includes the ability to:
| 6.1 | Recognize the relative merits of care provided in varied health care delivery settings, including consideration of cost-effectiveness and risk-benefit analysis. |
| 6.2 | Recognize when, how and with whom to coordinate resources within health systems to improve patient care. |
| 6.3 | Demonstrate an understanding of how the principles of patient safety and quality improvement apply to all aspects of health care delivery. |
| 6.4 | Identify how system-based factors may impact the delivery of socially just healthcare. |
7. Interprofessional Collaboration
A graduate of Stritch School of Medicine is expected to:
Demonstrate the ability to effectively collaborate in the delivery of interprofessional team-based patient care.
This includes the ability to:
| 7.1 | Collaborate with all health professionals to maintain a culture of mutual respect, dignity, ethical integrity, and trust. |
| 7.2 | Recognize the roles of various health-care professionals and their contributions to timely, efficient, effective, and equitable team-based health care. |
| 7.3 | Communicate with all health professionals in a responsive and responsible manner that enhances team-delivered care to patients. |
8. Personal and Professional Development
A graduate of Stritch School of Medicine is expected to:
Demonstrate the qualities required to assure lifelong personal and professional growth by cultivating the maturity and adaptability required to manage the adversity and uncertainty inherent in the practice of medicine.
This includes the ability to:
| 8.1 | Demonstrate personal responsibility and healthy coping strategies for maintaining physical and mental wellbeing, while fulfilling personal and professional obligations. |
| 8.2 | Integrate the practice of critical reflection and self-inquiry in order to sustain meaning and purpose in being a physician. |
| 8.3 | Develop and apply skills and qualities of the physician's vocation including humility, compassion, empathy, confidence, and integrity. |