Transcript www.medschool.vcu.edu

Is Our Professionalism
All It Should Be?
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Professionalism
Implies:
• Commitment
• Training
• Competence
(as with NBA, policemen, soldiers, etc.)
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"Learned" Professions
• Law
• Religion
• Medicine
Essence of Professionalism for these
– ETHICS
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Components of Medical Professionalism
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Altruism
Accountability
Excellence
Respect for others
Personal commitment to life-long learning
Duty
Honor and integrity
(KUMC definition)
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Sources of Concern re: Professionalism
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Medical student graduation questionnaire
AMA
AAMC
ACGME
ABIM
Local anecdotes
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VCU School of Medicine Standards
of Professional Behavior
These standards describe behaviors expected from
faculty,housestaff, and students in the School of Medicine:
• Recognize their positions as role models for other
members of the health care team.
• Carry out academic, clinical and research
responsibilities in a conscientious manner, make
every effort to exceed expectations and make a
commitment to life-long learning.
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• Treat patients, faculty, housestaff and students with
humanism and sensitivity to the value of cultural,
social, age, gender, disability and economic diversity
without discrimination, bias, or harassment.
• Maintain patient confidentiality.
• Be respectful of the privacy of all members of the
medical campus community and avoid promoting
gossip and rumor.
• Interact with all other members of the health care
team in a helpful and supportive fashion without
arrogance and with respect and recognition of the
roles played by each individual.
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• Provide help or seek assistance for any member of
the health care team who is recognized as impaired in
his/her ability to perform his/her professional
obligations.
• Be mindful the limits of one’s knowledge and abilities
and seek help from others whenever appropriate.
• Abide by accepted ethical standards in the
scholarship, research and standards of patient care.
• Abide by the guidelines of the VCU Honor System.
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Vignettes
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Concerns and Dilemmas
• Receiving gifts from commercial reps
• Billing for services of others
• Reporting patient impairments to "others"
• Unclear use of placebo (clinical trial)
• Misrepresentation ("Doctor Assistant")
• Withholding information re: medical "error"
• Multiple privacy issues (including elevator talk)
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“Bottom Line”
Medical Professionalism is an expected
behavior in all interactions
• Faculty
• Housestaff
• Support staff
• Students
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Professionalism
If there are "lapses," how do we raise the
level of Professionalism in our "culture"?
Answer: Create Awareness
in all of us!
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The Oath of Hippocrates
I do solemnly swear by that which I hold most sacred
That I will be loyal to the profession of medicine and just and
generous to its members
That I will lead my life and practice my art in uprightness and honor
That into whatsoever house I shall enter it shall be for the good of the sick to
the utmost of my power, I holding myself aloof from wrong, from
corruption, from tempting of others to vice
That I will exercise my art solely for the cure of my patients, and will
give no drug, perform no operation, for a criminal purpose, even if
solicited, far less suggest it
That whatsoever I shall see or hear of the lives of men which is not fitting to be
spoken, I will keep inviolably secret
These things I promise and in proportions as I am faithful to this my oath may
happiness and good repute be ever mine, the opposite if I shall be
forsworn.
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SOM Professionalism Website
http://www.medschool.vcu.edu/professionalism/
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