1 Is Our Professionalism All It Should Be?. 2 Professionalism Implies: Commitment Training...

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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

• 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

• 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 sacredThat I will be loyal to the profession of medicine and just and

generous to its membersThat I will lead my life and practice my art in uprightness and honorThat 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/