Search

Purpose: An important goal of medical education is to teach students to use an electronic health record (EHR) safely and effectively. The purpose of this study is to examine medical student accounts of EHR use during their core inpatient clinical clerkships using a national sample. Paper health records (PHRs) are similarly examined., Method: An online survey about health record use within the inpatient component of six core clerkships was administered to medical students after they completed Step 2 Clinical Knowledge of the United States Medical Licensing Examination. The sample included 17,202 U.S. medical students graduating between 2012 and 2016. Mean percentages of clerkships in which students engaged in various health record activities were computed, and analysis of variance was used to examine differences., Results: The mean percentages of clerkships in which a student accessed or entered information into an EHR increased from 78% to 93% and 59% to 72%, respectively. For students who used an EHR, the mean percentage of clerkships in which they entered information remained constant at 76%. Students entered notes during the majority of their clerkships, with increases over time. However, students entered orders in less than a quarter of their clerkships, with decreases over time. The percentage of clerkships in which students used PHRs was lower and declining., Conclusions: Although students used an EHR in the majority of their inpatient core clerkships, they received limited educational experiences related to order and note writing, which could translate into a lack of preparedness for future training and practice.

Objectives: In the United States, physician training in Critical Care Medicine has developed as a subspecialty of different primary boards, despite significant commonality in knowledge and skills. The Society of Critical Care Medicine appointed a multidisciplinary Task Force to examine alternative approaches for future training., Design: The Task Force reviewed the literature and conducted informal discussions with key stakeholders. Specific topics reviewed included the history of critical care training, commonalities among subspecialties, developments since a similar review in 2004, international experience, quality patient care, and financial and workforce issues., Main Results: The Task Force believes that options for future training include establishment of a 1) primary specialty of critical care; 2) unified fellowship and certification process; or 3) unified certification process with separate fellowship programs within the current specialties versus 4) maintaining multiple specialty-based fellowship programs and certification processes., Conclusions: 1) Changing the current Critical Care Medicine training paradigms may benefit trainees and patient care. 2) Multiple pathways into critical care training for all interested trainees are desirable for meeting future intensivist workforce demands. 3) The current subspecialties within separate boards are not "distinct and well-defined field[s] of medical practice" per the American Board of Medical Specialties. Recommendations for first steps are as follows: 1) as the society representing multidisciplinary critical care, the Society of Critical Care Medicine has an opportunity to organize a meeting of all stakeholders to discuss the issues regarding Critical Care Medicine training and consider cooperative approaches for the future. 2) A common Critical Care Medicine examination, possibly with a small percentage of base-specialty-specific questions, should be considered. 3) Institutions with multiple Critical Care Medicine fellowship programs should consider developing joint, multidisciplinary training curricula. 4) The boards that offer Critical Care Medicine examinations, along with national critical care societies, should consider ways to shorten training time.

For decades, the internal medicine (IM) subinternship has served as a critical interface between undergraduate and graduate medical education. As such, the vast majority of U.S. medical schools offer this rotation to help students prepare for post-graduate training. Historically an experiential rotation, a formal curriculum with specific learning objectives was eventually developed for this course in 2002. Since then, graduate medical education (GME) has changed significantly with the regulation of duty hours, adoption of competency-based education, and development of training milestones and entrustable professional activities. In response to these and many other changes to residency training and medical practice, in 2010, the Association of Program Directors in Internal Medicine (APDIM) surveyed its members-with input from the Clerkship Directors in Internal Medicine (CDIM) Subinternship Task Force-to determine which core skills program directors expected from new medical school graduates. The results of that survey helped to inform a joint CDIM-APDIM committee's decision to re-evaluate the goals of the IM subinternship in an effort to enhance the transition from medical school to residency. This joint committee defined the minimum expectations of what constitutes an IM subinternship rotation, proposed recommended skills for IM subinterns, and discussed challenges and future directions for this crucial course.

Processes for the credentialing and privileging of health professionals are of increasing importance and value to the U.S. health care system and to society. As efforts continue to provide and reward more efficient, affordable, and higher quality health care (the "triple aim" described by Berwick et al.1), the ability to ensure the capabilities and competence of the health professionals, including pharmacists, who practice within an increasingly complex and sophisticated system has become both more relevant and essential. Currently, all U.S.-educated pharmacists attain a fundamental set of credentials to qualify to enter practice-an accredited professional pharmacy degree and a license awarded upon successful completion of a national postgraduation examination administered by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy on behalf of state boards of pharmacy. This process provides an established framework to assure stakeholders of the ability of pharmacists to provide care and services that reflect sound, entry-level practice. However, evolving patient care and health system needs and demands have heightened the requisite skills needed by pharmacists to deliver more complex services. Ongoing professional development and competency assessment are integral parts of health professionals' expectations to maintain a contemporary practice. This resource guide on the credentialing and privileging of pharmacists has been developed to supplement the Council on Credentialing in Pharmacy (CCP)a Guiding Principles for Post-licensure Credentialing of Pharmacists2 and to assist those who are introducing or enhancing a credentialing and privileging system for pharmacists within their health care settings. CCP does not provide the guide for use as a standard of practice nor intends to represent the content as best or expected practices.

Introduction: At present there is no curriculum to guide physician lifelong learning in a prescribed, deliberate manner. The Conjoint Committee on Continuing Medical Education, a group representing 16 major stakeholder organizations in continuing medical education, recommends that each specialty society and corresponding board reach consensus on the competencies expected of physicians in that specialty. Experts in a specialty will define content-based core competencies in the areas of patient care, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, and systems-based practice. These competencies, when cross-referenced with expertise, comprise a framework for specialty curricula and board maintenance of certification programs. The American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Board of Ophthalmology already have implemented this recommendation. Their work is reported as a model for further development. A competency-based curriculum framework offers a foundation for continuing medical education in diverse practice settings and provider organizations.

Practicing evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) requires practitioners to develop an ability to appraise the quality of published studies addressing questions related to their clinical practice. This paper describes a process by which CAM practitioners can determine the validity of studies evaluating therapeutic interventions. The process requires asking two broad questions: (1). Do the treatment and control group begin with the same prognosis? and (2). Do the treatment and control group remain the same with respect to important prognostic factors? Answering these questions requires determining whether studies used effective randomization, preserved randomization through intention-to-treat analyses, used blinding, and had adequate follow-up of trial participants.

Objectives: This prospective cohort study evaluated the effect of unfolding case-based learning on undergraduate nursing students' self-perceived clinical decision-making ability., Methods: Students' self-reported responses to Jenkins's Clinical Decision Making in Nursing Scale were compared between the unfolding case-based learning cohort (n=140) and the comparison cohort (n=126) at a school of nursing in the United States., Results: The results revealed similar students' responses between the two study cohorts. However, unfolding case-based learning significantly increased students' perceived proficiency in "search for information and unbiased assimilation of new information"., Conclusions: Findings from the present study highlight possibilities presented by unfolding case-based learning in undergraduate nursing education. The study supports that unfolding case studies can be introduced early on, and then nurtured throughout the undergraduate program to influence the development of nursing students' clinical decision-making skills., (© 2024 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.)

The article presents position papers approved by the American Association of Dental Schools (AADS) related to dental education in the U.S. It mentions incorporation of peer review in dental school curricula provides an opportunity to learn skills of working with other practitioners and learn actual clinical skills. AADS believes that federal funds must be included to finance basic healthcare benefits.

Aim: To examine the diagnostic reasoning skills of two nurse practitioner student cohorts., Introduction: Nurse practitioners continue to play a pivotal role in health care provision. Diagnostic reasoning is a core skill of advanced practice. A comparative diagnostic reasoning study between two student cohorts was undertaken between 2018 and 2019., Methods: A validated diagnostic reasoning scale was completed by nurse practitioner students in the United Kingdom and the United States of America at the beginning and end of their clinical placements. The study utilized descriptive quantitative statistics from the data submitted by 22 survey respondents from an online survey., Results: Analysis of the diagnostic reasoning skills suggested there was a difference in the structural memory scores when compared with the beginning of their clinical placements and the final semester of their clinical placements., Conclusion: Diagnostic reasoning skills are a core skill of advanced practice. As students progress through their training, these skills improve. Despite the statistical difference in diagnostic reasoning scores, caution should be made in determining any larger implications due to the small number of participants in this study. Further study is needed in this area., (© 2022 John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

Rapid response is a common term in hospital settings, reflecting immediate clinical response to a critical challenge. In preparation for the oncoming pandemic of novel coronavirus 2019, nurse leaders within a large health system in the Mountain West region implemented a rapid response to prepare nondirect care registered nurses for deployment to the bedside. This article highlights the prompt action, organization, and implementation of this process, as well as the lessons learned for future events., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2020 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Hospitalized patients require venous access for procedures, treatments, or therapies. The short peripheral catheter (SPC) is one option for patients who need intravenous (IV) access for treatment. Patients with difficult vasculature sometimes require multiple attempts to obtain SPC access. The aim of this study was to gain an understanding of adult patients' experiences with SPC insertion, specifically those with difficult venous access. Ten participants were purposely sampled over a 2-month period for semistructured interviews from the medical, surgical, and telemetry units at an inner city, 750-bed trauma hospital in the southwestern United States. Four key themes developed from the interview data: skills and techniques of the clinicians, distress and the SPC insertion experience, physical and emotional pain, and patient/clinician communication. These themes provided ways that clinicians might improve the patient experience, including: ensuring experienced and confident inserters are available to insert SPCs, utilizing distraction and pain methods to decrease pain perception, communicating with patients regarding site selection and expectations during SPC insertion, and identifying patients with difficult vascular access to limit attempts per patient to preserve vascular sites., Competing Interests: The author has no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2021 Infusion Nurses Society.)

Despite the need for leaders in health care improvement across health professions, there are no standards for the knowledge and skills that should be achieved through advanced interprofessional health care improvement training. Existing health care improvement training competencies focus on foundational knowledge expected of all trainees or for specific career pathways. Health care improvement leaders fill multiple roles within organizations and promote interprofessional improvement practice. The diverse skill set required of modern health care improvement leaders necessitates the development of training competencies specifically for fellowships in applied health care improvement. The authors describe the development of the revised national Veterans Affairs Quality Scholars (VAQS) Program competencies. The VAQS Program is an interprofessional, postdoctoral training program whose mission is to develop leaders and scholars to improve health care. An interprofessional committee of VAQS faculty reviewed and revised the competencies over 4 months beginning in fall 2018. The first draft was developed using 111 competencies submitted by 11 VAQS training sites and a review of published competencies. The final version included 22 competencies spanning 5 domains: interprofessional collaboration and teamwork, improvement and implementation science, organization and system leadership, methodological skills and analytic techniques for improvement and research, and teaching and coaching. Once attained, the VAQS competencies will guide the skill development that interprofessional health care improvement leaders need to participate in and lead health care improvement scholarship and implementation. These broad competencies are relevant to advanced training programs that develop health care improvement leaders and scholars and may be used by employers to understand the knowledge and skills expected of individuals who complete advanced fellowships in applied health care improvement.

Purpose: To have subject matter experts evaluate the Core Entrustable Professional Activities for Entering Residency (Core EPAs) with the EQual rubric to determine if revisions were required and, if applicable, how to focus revision efforts., Method: Ten entrustable professional activity (EPA) experts were invited to evaluate the 13 Core EPAs. Experts had a 6-month window (December 2018-May 2019) to complete the evaluation, which contained the complete EQual rubric and 3 additional prompts, one of which-"Do you think this EPA requires revision?"-was limited to a "yes/no" response. Descriptive statistics for overall and domain-specific EQual rubric scores for each of the 13 Core EPAs were calculated. Free-text responses to why and/or how a Core EPA should be revised were summarized for any Core EPA that scored below a cutoff or for which the majority of experts recommended revision., Results: Six experts completed the evaluation. Most Core EPAs' (9/13) overall score was above the cutoff, indicating that they align with the key domains of the EPA construct. The remaining 4 Core EPAs (2, 7, 9, and 13) scored below the overall cutoff, suggesting that they may require revision. A majority of experts felt that Core EPAs 6, 7, 9, and 13 required revision. With regard to domain-specific scores, Core EPAs 2, 3, 7, 9, and 13 were below the discrete units of work cutoff; Core EPAs 7, 9, and 13 were below the entrustable, essential, and important tasks of the profession of medicine cutoff; and Core EPA 9 was below the curricular role cutoff., Conclusions: The Core EPAs represent a promising initial framework of EPAs for undergraduate medical education. Some Core EPAs might benefit from revision. The process of improving the Core EPAs must continue if they are to standardize outcomes for medical school graduates.

Background: Biomedical research is essential for optimizing patient care. Research has suggested inadequacies in nonorthopaedic trainees' understanding of study design and biostatistics. This study assesses orthopaedic residents' knowledge of common biostatistical and study design concepts, as well as their confidence in utilizing the medical literature., Methods: A validated survey assessing knowledge and the application of study design concepts was administered to residents at 10 U.S. institutions. The survey tested knowledge as well as confidence and attitudes regarding common biostatistics principles. The association of demographic characteristics, work activities, and confidence and attitude ratings with test performance were examined using t tests and analysis of variance., Results: The survey response rate was 64% (178 of 279). The largest group of participants were men (83%, 137 of 165), were between the ages of 26 and 30 years (59%, 105 of 177), and had graduated medical school within the past 4 to 10 years (43%, 76 of 175). Fifty-three percent (93 of 176) had prior biostatistics training, while 44% (77 of 176) had prior epidemiology training. Less than 5% of biostatistics or epidemiology training had taken place after medical school. Forty-seven percent (83 of 176) were unable to determine a study's design. Thirty-eight percent (67 of 178) could not apply the concept of specificity and sensitivity. Eighty-three percent (147 of 178) could not assess the strength of a relationship using odds ratios. Sixty-nine percent (123 of 178) understood the implications of p values. Previous biostatistics training, but not epidemiology or evidence-based medicine training; inclusion of reading research, attending conferences, and data analysis; as well as a self-reported finding of statistics as important for the analysis of one's own research data were significantly associated with better test performance (p < 0.05)., Conclusions: Notable deficits exist in orthopaedic residents' biostatistical knowledge. Greater emphasis is needed to improve biostatistics and research design training. The impact of biostatistics knowledge and/or aptitude on clinical decision-making is an area of suggested research.

Aim: The aim of the study was to identify the nature and extent of scientific research addressing continuing education for advanced practice nurses., Design: A scoping review., Review Methods: The Joanna Briggs Institute's methodology for scoping reviews., Data Sources: Electronic search was conducted on 17 September 2023 via CINAHL, PsycINFO, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library and the Joanna Briggs Institute's Evidence-Based Practice Database for research articles published between 2012 and 2023., Results: Nineteen papers were included in this review. Scientific research on continuing education for advanced practice nursing roles (i.e. nurse practitioner, clinical nurse specialist) has primarily been conducted in the United States and mostly addresses online-delivered continuing education interventions for clinical care competency. Most of the interventions targeted nurse practitioners., Conclusion: Continuing education has a pivotal role in supporting advanced practice nursing competency development. In addition to clinical care, future continuing education research should focus on other advanced practice nursing competencies, such as education, leadership, supporting organizational strategies, research and evidence implementation., Implications for the Profession And/or Patient Care: Continuing education programmes for advanced practice nurses should be rigorously developed, implemented and evaluated to support the quality and effectiveness of patient care., Impact: Continuing education for advanced practice nursing roles is an understudied phenomenon. This review highlights future research priorities and may inform the development of continuing education programmes., Reporting Method: PRISMA-ScR., (© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Advanced Nursing published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Rationale and Objectives: In our study, we evaluate GPT-4's performance on the American College of Radiology (ACR) 2022 Diagnostic Radiology In-Training Examination (DXIT). We perform multiple experiments across time points to assess for model drift, as well as after fine-tuning to assess for differences in accuracy., Materials and Methods: Questions were sequentially input into GPT-4 with a standardized prompt. Each answer was recorded and overall accuracy was calculated, as was logic-adjusted accuracy, and accuracy on image-based questions. This experiment was repeated several months later to assess for model drift, then again after the performance of fine-tuning to assess for changes in GPT's performance., Results: GPT-4 achieved 58.5% overall accuracy, lower than the PGY-3 average (61.9%) but higher than the PGY-2 average (52.8%). Adjusted accuracy was 52.8%. GPT-4 showed significantly higher (p = 0.012) confidence for correct answers (87.1%) compared to incorrect (84.0%). Performance on image-based questions was significantly poorer (p < 0.001) at 45.4% compared to text-only questions (80.0%), with adjusted accuracy for image-based questions of 36.4%. When the questions were repeated, GPT-4 chose a different answer 25.5% of the time and there was no change in accuracy. Fine-tuning did not improve accuracy., Conclusion: GPT-4 performed between PGY-2 and PGY-3 levels on the 2022 DXIT, significantly poorer on image-based questions, and with large variability in answer choices across time points. Exploratory experiments in fine-tuning did not improve performance. This study underscores the potential and risks of using minimally-prompted general AI models in interpreting radiologic images as a diagnostic tool. Implementers of general AI radiology systems should exercise caution given the possibility of spurious yet confident responses., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Association of University Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The nurse role on an Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team requires a specialized set of skills in psychiatric community-based care. While the ACT model has existed for fifty years, no nationally recognized standard curriculum to train ACT nurses has been developed. The ACT Nursing Project described in this paper aimed to create a competency-based on-board training program using the Developing a Curriculum (DACUM) method. Eight ACT nurses from three states served as the expert panel to create a DACUM chart detailing the full set of nine duties and 127 tasks required of ACT nurses. To verify the DACUM results, 57 ACT nurses from four states completed a survey and confirmed that 80% of the tasks identified by the expert panel were also performed by the validation sample of ACT nurses. This paper describes how the DACUM duties and tasks provided the framework to develop onboard training curriculum for ACT program nurses. The next step is to pilot the onboard training curriculum to newly hired ACT nurses to ensure they are equipped to meet the complex needs of people living with serious mental illness, and to increase their competency, job satisfaction and decrease the high annual turnover rate among ACT nurses.

Introduction: The real‐world mechanisms underlying prospective entrustment decision making (PEDM) by entrustment or clinical competency committees (E/CCCs) are poorly understood. To advance understanding in this area, the authors conducted a realist synthesis of the published literature to address the following research question: In E/CCC efforts to make defensible prospective entrustment decisions (PEDs), what works, for whom, under what circumstances and why? Methods: Realist work seeks to understand the contexts (C), mechanisms (M) and outcomes (O) that explain how and why things work (or do not). In the authors' study, contexts included individual E/CCC members, E/CCC structures and processes, and training programmes. The outcome (i.e. desired outcome) was a PED. Mechanisms were a substantial focus of the analysis and informed the core findings. To define a final corpus of 52 included papers, the authors searched four databases, screened all results from those searches and performed a full‐text review of a subset of screened papers. Data extraction focused on developing context–mechanism–outcome configurations from the papers, which were used to create a theory for how PEDM leads to PEDs. Results: PEDM is often driven by default (non‐deliberate) decision making rather than a deliberate process of deciding whether a trainee should be entrusted or not. When defaulting, some E/CCCs find red flags that sometimes lead to being more deliberate with decision making. E/CCCs that seek to be deliberate describe PEDM that can be effortful (when data are insufficient or incongruent) or effortless (when data are robust and tell a congruent story about a trainee). Both information about trainee trustworthiness and the sufficiency of data about trainee performance influence PEDM. Several moderators influence what is considered to be sufficient data, how trustworthiness data are viewed and how PEDM is carried out. These include perceived consequences and associated risks, E/CCC member trust propensity, E/CCC member personal knowledge of and experience with trainees and E/CCC structures and processes. Discussion: PEDM is rarely deliberate but should be. Data about trainee trustworthiness are foundational to making PEDs. Bias, equity and fairness are nearly absent from the papers in this synthesis, and future efforts must seek to advance understanding and practice regarding the roles of bias, equity and fairness in PEDM. Entrustment decisions made by committees are rarely deliberate, but should be. These authors provide practical advice, based in the literature, for improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The provision of modern health care in the United States faces significant challenges, as evidenced by multiple national reports of a workforce in distress. In response to these challenges, the practice of coaching emerges as a transformative skill, recommended for individuals in high-stress environments. Coaching in health care focuses on developing nurses and building teams by fostering self-understanding, deploying strengths, improving relational strategies, and gaining moral clarity. It serves as a potent strategy for nurse leaders to navigate the complexities of their systems. This paper explores the practice of coaching as an important mindset and skill. A coaching mindset is characterized by trust, deep listening, curiosity, embracing both/and thinking, discernment over judgment, and fosters an environment where nurses can flourish. It promotes a shift from telling to asking, empowering individuals to contribute innovative ideas and solutions. Additionally, the paper provides guidance for coaching and tools for maintaining a coaching mindset in the face of chronic stress. By fostering a coaching mindset, employing powerful questions, and using tools to sustain emotional integrity, leaders can empower nurses to thrive in complexity, enhance workplace well-being, and contribute to a resilient health care culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Pediatric healthcare today shows a rising demand for research focusing on children's perspectives on and consumer satisfaction with the nursing care they receive. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to translate and adapt the Consumer Emergency Care Satisfaction Scale (CECSS), a paper-based, self-administered 19-item questionnaire originally developed in the United States and targeted towards adults, and then test the new version in Swedish pediatric emergency departments.Methods: The study was designed with a two-phase approach. Firstly, a forward-backward translation of the CECSS, involving expert consensus, was performed, and then the questionnaire was adapted for children aged 10-18 and assessed for face and content validity. Secondly, the translated and adapted questionnaire was tested with a clinical sample for construct validity, internal consistency, and reliability. This last aspect was assessed using a structured telephone interview 7-10 days after the participant visited a pediatric emergency department. All children participating in this study gave their assent (< 15 years) or consent (≥ 15 years), and their guardian's written informed consent was also obtained.Results: The paper-based, self-administered 19-item Swedish version of the CECSS was tested on a clinical sample consisting of 203 nonurgent children (boys: n = 109, 53.7 % and girls: n = 94, 46.3 %) between 10 and 18 years (mean age 13.8, SD 2.29). The factor analysis revealed three factors that explain 63.1 % of the total variation in the 15 items. The Cronbach's alphas for the three dimensions (caring, teaching, and clinical competence) varied between 0.79 and 0.88. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for the entire Swedish version of the CECSS was 0.58, and the ICCs for the three dimensions varied between 0.56 and 0.71.Conclusions: The results show that the developed Swedish Pediatric Consumer Emergency Care Satisfaction Scale (p-CECSS-S) is a valid, stable and easy-to-use-questionnaire that can be used to assess children's satisfaction with nursing care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Diagnostic Reasoning (DR) is an essential competency requiring mastery for safe, independent Nurse Practitioner (NP) practice, but little is known about DR content included in NP education programs. The aims of this study were to identify whether and how the concept of DR is addressed in NP education. Design: We conducted a scoping review on DR‐related content and teaching innovations in U.S. primary care NP education programs, with implications for NP education programs worldwide. Concepts and principles with global applicability include: conducting focused and hypothesis‐directed histories and exams, generating the problem statement, formulating the differential diagnosis, appropriate and relevant diagnostic testing, determining the working diagnosis and developing evidence‐based, patient‐centred management plans. Data sources N = 1115 articles retrieved from Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, and CINAHL for the period 2005–2021. Forty‐one scholarly articles met inclusion/exclusion criteria. Review methods: Data were extracted, synthesized and grouped by theoretical frameworks, content included, educational interventions and assessment measures. Results: Most articles provided descriptions of approaches for teaching NP clinical or diagnostic reasoning. Ten papers directly referenced the current science and theory of DR. Conclusion: The US NP education literature addressing DR is limited and demonstrates a lack of shared conceptualizations of DR. Whilst numerous components of DR are identifiable in the literature, a robust teaching/learning scholarship for DR has not yet been established in the US NP education literature. Impact Whilst primary care NP education programs are beginning to incorporate DR education into their curricula, little research has been conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of educational outcomes. Increased integration of DR content into NP education is needed, including increased educational research on teaching DR competencies. Patient or public contribution: No patient or public contribution was included in this review, as the public is generally not familiar with DR or its teaching approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Thematic arts have been integrated throughout various undergraduate medical education programs to improve students' clinical skills, knowledge, and behaviours to train clinically competent physicians. Applied theatre and drama use theatrical performances and exercises respectively to guide education. Several medical schools across Canada and the United States have incorporated applied theatre and drama within their curriculums, but there is currently no compilation of these initiatives. Methods: Using Arksey and O'Malley's methodological framework for scoping reviews, the two authors searched journal databases for articles pertaining to theatre or drama activities being used in undergraduate medical education in Canada and the United States. Search terms revolved around applied theatre and undergraduate medical education. Twenty articles were read in full, 14 were included in this review. The articles were subjected to content analysis to understand how the studies connected with the CanMEDS framework, allowing to understand the impacts and merits of applied theatre and drama in undergraduate medical education. Results: Content analyses generated three categories for how theatre and drama can help medical faculties improve their students' communication skills, integrate creative medical learning, and aid professional development. These three categories touched upon all seven aspects of the CanMEDS framework, indicating the value of drama being included in the current framework for medical education. Conclusion: This scoping review illustrates the intersections between thematic arts and undergraduate medical education by highlighting how applied theatre or drama activities connect to the entire Can-MEDS framework. This review informs current theatre and drama initiatives led by medical faculty aiming to develop their undergraduate medical curricula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Inappropriate needleless connector (NC) care is associated with device failure from catheter occlusion and patient blood stream infections (BSIs). This can be attributed to a lack of knowledge of connector designs and flushing, clamping, and syringe disconnection techniques. This study aimed to assess nurses' practice, knowledge, attitudes, and key influencers on appropriate care of NCs in an Australian facility and compare these with studies undertaken in the United States in 2011., Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was sent via email with a SurveyMonkey® link to all nurses working in clinical areas (total population sampling approach; approximately 1500 nurses), at an Australian hospital, in 2018. The survey was anonymous and open for 6 weeks. Analysis was with R software., Results: Response rate was approximately 19% (n = 283). Most (89%) of nurses stated that they clean NCs before each access. Only 25% correctly recognised the negative pressure NC, and 79% correctly identified the correct clamping and disconnection sequence. Positive pressure displacement devices were correctly identified by 44% of respondents, with 34% identifying the correct clamping and disconnecting technique. Nurses reported their behaviour was most influenced by local senior nurses., Conclusions: There remains a significant gap in nurses' knowledge of NC device types, as well as the correct clamping and syringe disconnection for both negative and positive displacement NCs. This survey reaffirms that senior nurses are the key influencers of nurses' adherence to best practice guidelines., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest Dr Cooke reports grants to her employer, Griffith University, on her behalf from Becton, Dickinson and Company. Dr Rickard reports research grants and consultancy payments to her employer, Griffith University, on her behalf from 3M, Cardinal Health, and BD-Bard. Dr Whitby and Karen Slater have no conflicts to declare. No company played any role in the design, analysis, interpretation or presentation of this paper., (Crown Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: The involvement of speech and language therapists (SLTs) within paediatric palliative care (PPC) settings has been recognized within the extant literature. However, there is little understanding of SLT's specific roles and practices when working with this vulnerable cohort of children and their families. As part of a larger body of work to develop consensus‐based recommendations for SLTs working in PPC, it is important to investigate demographic and caseload characteristics. Aims: This exploratory study aimed to gather previously undocumented international demographic data pertaining to SLT service provision, caseload and training in PPC. Additionally, it sought to ascertain the current treatment and assessment approaches of SLTs, and if variations exist in beliefs and practices. Methods & Procedures: An anonymous cross‐sectional survey was designed and reported according to the Checklist for Reporting Results of Internet E‐Surveys (CHERRIES). The online survey consisted of 40 items spanning four domains: (1) demographic information, (2) caseload information, (3) service provision and (4) training and education. SLTs from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, Ireland and the United States were recruited using a purposive snowball sampling approach. Descriptive analysis of closed‐ended survey responses and content analysis of open‐ended responses are presented. Outcomes & Results: A total of 52 respondents completed the survey. SLTs worked in a variety of PPC settings, with patients of varying age and disease groups. Over 50% of participants reported working in PPC for ≤ 4 years. Genetic disorders (34%), oncology (27%) and neurological conditions (21%) made up a significant portion of respondents' caseloads. Reported treatments and assessment approaches used by SLTs are not unique to a PPC population. Barriers and enablers for practice were identified. A portion of participants did not feel trained and prepared to assess (19.2%) or treat (15.4%) PPC clients. Conclusions & Implications: This study confirms that SLTs internationally have a role in the management of communication and swallowing impairments in a PPC context. However, whether current training and resources adequately support SLTs in this role remains questionable. This paper helps to provide SLTs, administrators, professional associations and tertiary institutions with foundational data to help inform workforce planning, advocacy efforts and training priorities. What this paper addsWhat is already known on the subjectThe published multidisciplinary literature has identified that SLTs have a role in PPC. However, there has been no targeted research investigating the professional characteristics of clinicians in this context, nor any detailed information regarding associated clinician beliefs or management approaches.What this paper adds to existing knowledgeThis study is a snapshot of attributes, practice patterns and beliefs of SLTs who work with a PPC population. It highlights SLT perspectives of education and training, as well as meta‐perceptions of themselves within the multidisciplinary team.What are the potential or actual clinical implications of this work?Data presented in this paper will help to enable SLTs, organizations and associations to augment service provision and determine future professional development priorities within the field of PPC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to describe the results of an online program evaluation survey conducted in the USA in 2018 which was designed to understand how members of an enhanced multidisciplinary team (E-MDT) use the expertise of a forensic accountant (FA) in suspected cases of elder financial exploitation. Design/methodology/approach: This paper analyzes responses to an online survey from 54 E-MDT members. Narrative responses to open-ended questions were analyzed by using cross-case thematic analysis. Data from demographic questions and those with nominal response options were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Findings: Overwhelmingly, the E-MDT members described how useful the FA's expertise and subsequent detailed reports are in helping determine whether financial exploitation is taking place and providing information needed to continue an investigation and pursue criminal charges. Practical implications: The increasing longevity and sheer number of older adults present ongoing challenges in the fight to address financial exploitation. Findings suggest that FAs working with E-MDTs can help identify signs, collect evidence and help investigate cases of suspected financial abuse of older adults. The development of training programs focused on educating accountants to fill a need in a growing area of forensic accounting may be needed. Originality/value: This paper adds to the growing evidence of multidisciplinary teams as an effective model for investigating cases of financial elder exploitation by focusing specifically on the expertise of an FA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phenomenon: Many U.S. medical schools have responded to the adoption of competency-based medical education (CBME) frameworks by renewing their final-year curricula and including internship preparatory courses. The purpose of this scoping review was to map the published literature regarding the final year to discern how medical schools have responded to this paradigm change. Approach: A structured 5-step approach was used to conduct this scoping review. Electronic searches of PubMed, ERIC, Scopus, MedEdPortal, and 8 medical education journals were conducted to identify relevant articles published from 2006 to 2016. Four authors screened articles for inclusion using standardized eligibility criteria; interrater agreement was discussed and calculated. Authors extracted data elements, and a consensus-based approach was used to categorize, sort, and structure information gathered. Findings: Among 6,485 articles retrieved, 817 articles were included in the study. From 2007–2011 to 2012–2016, articles addressing the final year of medical school increased 93%, whereas articles describing internship preparatory courses increased 218%. The majority of articles did not reference a CBME framework (572/817; 70%), the frequency of mentions increased 268% from 2007–2011 to 2012–2016. Nearly three fourths of preparatory course-related papers reference a CBME framework (37/50; 74%). Insights: Our findings may reflect a movement in U.S. medical schools toward using shared assessment metrics to support 4th-year medical students' preparation for their postgraduate medical education. Despite an increased reference to CBME, there is relatively little use of competency-based assessment frameworks to evaluate learning outcomes. This review also found a substantial increase in the frequency of articles referencing senior-year preparatory courses in U.S. medical schools. Articles tended to describe institution-specific research or experiences. Opportunities likely exist for multi-institutional and organizational collaboration in determining the structure of the final year of medical school. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the past 30 years, there have been numerous, noteworthy successes in the development, validation, and implementation of clinical skills assessments. Despite this progress, the medical profession has barely scratched the surface towards developing assessments that capture the true complexity of hands-on skills in procedural medicine. This paper highlights the development implementation and new discoveries in performance metrics when using sensor technology to assess cognitive and technical aspects of hands-on skills., (© 2021 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Diagnostic errors are among the most common medical errors and the deadliest. The National Academy of Medicine recently concluded that diagnostic errors represent an urgent national concern. Their first recommendation to address this issue called for promoting the key role of the nurse in the diagnostic process. Registered nurses across clinical settings significantly contribute to the medical diagnostic process, though their role in diagnosis has historically gone unacknowledged. In this paper, we review the history and current state of diagnostic education in pre-licensure registered nurse preparation, introduce interprofessional individual- and team-based competencies to improve diagnostic safety, and discuss the next steps for nursing education. Nurses educated and empowered to fully participate in the diagnostic process are essential for achieving better, safer patient outcomes., (Copyright © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

American Boards of Medical Specialties have emphasized single point in time testing for summative assessment of cognitive expertise necessary for board certification. In 2016, the American Board of Anesthesiology introduced Maintenance of Certification in Anesthesiology (MOCA), a longitudinal assessment platform that provides diplomates formative feedback with continuous questions over time and adapts questions to areas of knowledge weaknesses over time. This paper describes the rationale, history, and early results of the American Board of Anesthesiology MOCA platform., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: None., (© Copyright 2020 by the American Board of Family Medicine.)

The interrelated epidemics of opioid use disorder (OUD) and HIV and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection have been identified as one of the most pressing syndemics facing the United States today. Research studies and interventions have begun to address the structural factors that promote the inter-relations between these conditions and a number of training programs to improve structural awareness have targeted physician trainees (e.g., residents and medical students). However, a significant limitation in these programs is the failure to include practicing primary care providers (PCPs). Over the past 5 years, there have been increasing calls for PCPs to develop structural competency as a way to provide a more integrated and patient-centered approach to prevention and care in the syndemic. This paper applies Metzel and Hansen's (1) framework for improved structural competency to describe an educational curriculum that can be delivered to practicing PCPs. Skill 1 involves reviewing the historical precedents (particularly stigma) that created the siloed systems of care for OUD, HIV, and HCV and examines how recent biomedical advances allow for greater care integration. To help clinicians develop a more multidisciplinary understanding of structure (Skill 2), trainees will discuss ways to assess structural vulnerability. Next, providers will review case studies to better understand how structural foundations are usually seen as cultural representations (Skill 3). Developing structural interventions (Skill 4) involves identifying ways to create a more integrated system of care that can overcome clinical inertia. Finally, the training will emphasize cultural humility (Skill 5) through empathetic and non-judgmental patient interactions. Demonstrating understanding of the structural barriers that patients face is expected to enhance patient trust and increase retention in care. The immediate objective is to pilot test the feasibility of the curriculum in a small sample of primary care sites and develop metrics for future evaluation. While the short-term goal is to test the model among practicing PCPs, the long-term goal is to implement the training practice-wide to ensure structural competence throughout the clinical setting., (Copyright © 2020 Bagchi.)

Globally, patients with the co-morbidity of physical and mental illness experience greater health complexities than the general population. Yet nurses caring for medical-surgical patients with a secondary diagnosis of mental illness are often unprepared for these complexities. This paper focuses on professional experiences from a more extensive parent study that evaluated components of nursing preparedness (nursing care self-efficacy and mental health care competency) to provide care for medical-surgical patients who also have mental illness. The parent study explored characteristics of variables (personal, educational and professional) more frequently associated with and more predictive of nursing preparedness. Discussed will be the findings from characteristics of professional experiences that best indicated nurse preparedness to care for medical-surgical patients with mental illness. A descriptive correlational design was used with a convenience sample of RNs (N = 260) from a tertiary health system in the south-eastern United States. Findings significantly indicated three characteristics of professional experiences - mentoring, frequency of care and continuing education - best prepare a registered nurse to care for this complex population. Further research is necessary to locate, grow and develop mentors and to construct accessible, affordable continuing education regarding care of this population for a prepared nursing workforce and work environment., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Competence in healthcare is a recognized expectation by consumers. In 2018 following an extensive review and consensus-building process, burn nursing practice competencies were published. Clinical nurse leaders were called upon to use these published competencies in practice as a basis for the requisite knowledge and skills needed in the care of the burn-injured individual. In 2019 at the 51st Annual Meeting of the American Burn Association, nurses from four U.S. burn centers reported on their center's incorporation of the competencies within their educational nursing curriculums. This paper provides a forum for each of the lead authors from Rhode Island Hospital Burn Center, the University of Utah Health Burn Trauma Intensive Care Unit, Parkland Regional Burn Center, and the University of Chicago Medicine Burn Center to outline their current utilization of the new burn nurse competencies and plans for future use., (© American Burn Association 2019. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Background: Despite a fast-paced environment, the emergency clinician has a duty to meet the palliative patient's needs. Despite suggested models and interventions, this remains challenging in practice. Aim: To raise awareness of these challenges by exploring the experience of palliative care patients and their families and informal carers attending the emergency department, and of the clinicians caring for them. Design: Qualitative systematic literature review and thematic synthesis. Search terms related to the population (palliative care patients, family carers, clinicians), exposure (the emergency department) and outcome (experience). The search was international but restricted to English and used a qualitative filter. Title, abstracts and, where retrieved, full texts were reviewed independently by two reviewers against predefined inclusion criteria arbitrated by a third reviewer. Studies were appraised for quality but not excluded on that basis. Data sources: MEDLINE [1946-], Embase[1947-], CINAHL [1981-] and PsycINFO [1987-] with a bibliography search. Results: 19 papers of 16 studies were included from Australia (n = 5), the United Kingdom (n = 5), and United States (n = 9) representing 482 clinical staff involved in the emergency department (doctors, nurses, paramedics, social workers, technicians), 61 patients and 36 carers. Nine descriptive themes formed three analytic themes: 'Environment and Purpose', 'Systems of Care and Interdisciplinary Working' and 'Education and Training'. Conclusion: In the included studies, provision of emergency palliative care is a necessary purpose of the emergency department. Failure to recognise this, gain the necessary skills or change to systems better suited to its delivery perpetuates poor implementation of palliative care in this environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthcare-associated infections are a significant reason for readmission to hospital post-discharge to the community. In this paper, the authors describe some of the key findings from a programme of work conducted in a home care agency (community care organisation) in the US. A survey was conducted to explore home care nurses' knowledge, attitudes and beliefs around infection control (n=415); 400 nurse-patient visits were observed, and 50 nurses were interviewed about their infection control practices. Nurses reported high compliance with infection control practices. However, the overall average adherence rate to observed hand hygiene practices was 45.6%. Interview data provided valuable insights into specific challenges faced by nurses in a home care setting. This study provides insights that can be used to enhance infection control practice in community care in the UK. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: In 2013, the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration funded a network of 14 Tobacco Centers of Regulatory Science (TCORS) with a mission that included research and training. A cross-TCORS Panel was established to define tobacco regulatory science (TRS) competencies to help harmonize and guide their emerging educational programs. The purpose of this paper is to describe the Panel's work to develop core TRS domains and competencies.Methods: The Panel developed the list of domains and competencies using a semistructured Delphi method divided into four phases occurring between November 2013 and August 2015.Results: The final proposed list included a total of 51 competencies across six core domains and 28 competencies across five specialized domains.Conclusions: There is a need for continued discussion to establish the utility of the proposed set of competencies for emerging TRS curricula and to identify the best strategies for incorporating these competencies into TRS training programs. Given the field's broad multidisciplinary nature, further experience is needed to refine the core domains that should be covered in TRS training programs versus knowledge obtained in more specialized programs.Implications: Regulatory science to inform the regulation of tobacco products is an emerging field. The paper provides an initial list of core and specialized domains and competencies to be used in developing curricula for new and emerging training programs aimed at preparing a new cohort of scientists to conduct critical TRS research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endoscopic-retrograde-cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is now a vital modality with primarily therapeutic and occasionally solely diagnostic utility for numerous biliary/pancreatic disorders. It has a significantly steeper learning curve than that for other standard gastrointestinal (GI) endoscopies, such as esophagogastroduodenoscopy or colonoscopy, due to greater technical difficulty and higher risk of complications. Yet, GI fellows have limited exposure to ERCP during standard-three-year-GI-fellowships because ERCP is much less frequently performed than esophagogastroduodenoscopy/colonoscopy. This led to adding an optional year of training in therapeutic endoscopy. Yet many graduates from standard three-year-fellowships without advanced training intensely pursue independent/unsupervised ERCP privileges despite inadequate numbers of performed ERCPs and unacceptably low rates of successful selective cannulation of desired (biliary or pancreatic) duct. Hospital credentialing committees have traditionally performed ERCP credentialing, but this practice has led to widespread flouting of recommended guidelines ( e.g ., planned privileging of applicant with 20% successful cannulation rate, or after performing only 7 ERCPs); and intense politicking of committee members by applicants, their practice groups, and potential competitors. Consequently, some gastroenterologists upon completing standard fellowships train and learn ERCP "on the job" during independent/unsupervised practice, which can result in bad outcomes: high rates of failed bile duct cannulation. This severe clinical problem is indicated by publication of ≥ 12 ERCP competency studies/guidelines during last 5 years. However, lack of mandatory, quantitative, ERCP credentialing criteria has permitted neglect of recommended guidelines. This work comprehensively reviews literature on ERCP credentialing; reviews rationales for proposed guidelines; reports problems with current system; and proposes novel criteria for competency. This work advocates for mandatory, national, written, minimum, quantitative, standards, including cognitive skills (possibly assessed by a nationwide examination), and technical skills, assessed by number performed (≥ 200-250 ERCPs), types of ERCPs, success rate (approximately ≥ 90% cannulation of desired duct), and letters of recommendation by program director/ERCP mentor. Mandatory criteria should ideally not be monitored by a hospital committee subjected to intense politicking by applicants, their employers, and sometimes even competitors, but an independent national entity, like the National Board of Medical Examiners/American Board of Internal Medicine., Competing Interests: Conflict-of-interest statement: None for either Dr. Cappell or Dr. Friedel. In particular, Dr. Cappell, as a consultant for the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Advisory Committee for Gastroenterology Drugs, affirms that this paper does not discuss any proprietary confidential pharmaceutical data submitted to the FDA and reviewed by Dr. Cappell. Dr. Cappell was until 1 year ago a member of the speaker’s bureau for AstraZeneca and Daiichi Sankyo, co-marketers of Movantik. Dr. Cappell has had one-time consultancies for Mallinckrodt and Shire. This work does not discuss any drug manufactured or marketed by AstraZeneca, Daiichi Sankyo, Shire, or Mallinckrodt.

Background: Undergraduate students across health professions are required to be capable users of evidence in their clinical practice after graduation. Gaining the essential knowledge and clinical behaviors for evidence-based practice can be enhanced by theory-based strategies. Limited evidence exists on the effect of underpinning undergraduate EBP curricula with a theoretical framework to support EBP competence. A systematic review was conducted to determine the effectiveness of EBP teaching strategies for undergraduate students, with specific focus on efficacy of theory-based strategies., Methods: This review critically appraised and synthesized evidence on the effectiveness of EBP theory-based teaching strategies specifically for undergraduate health students on long or short-term change in multiple outcomes, including but not limited to, EBP knowledge and attitudes. PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, ProQuest Health, ERIC, The Campbell Collaboration, PsycINFO were searched for published studies and The New York Academy of Medicine, ProQuest Dissertations and Mednar were searched for unpublished studies. Two independent reviewers assessed studies using the Joanna Briggs Institute Meta-Analysis of Statistics Assessment and Review Instrument., Results: Twenty-eight studies reporting EBP teaching strategies were initially selected for review with methodological quality ranging from low to high. Studies varied in course duration, timing of delivery, population and course content. Only five included papers reported alignment with, and detail of, one or more theoretical frameworks. Theories reported included Social Cognitive Theory (one study), Roger's Diffusion of Innovation Theory (two studies) and Cognitive Apprenticeship Theory (one study). Cognitive Flexibility Theory and Cognitive Load Theory were discussed in two separate papers by the same authors. All but one study measured EBP knowledge. Mixed results were reported on EBP knowledge, attitudes and skills across the five studies., Conclusions: EBP programs for undergraduate health students require consideration of multiple domains, including clinical behaviors, attitudes and cognitive learning processes; Interventions grounded in theory were found to have a small but positive effect on EBP attitudes. The most effective theory for developing and supporting EBP capability is not able to be determined by this review therefore additional rigorous research is required.

Introduction: Each year residency programs expend considerable effort ranking applicants for the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP). We explored the relationship between residents' NRMP rank list position as generated at our institution and their performance in residency and post-graduation to determine whether such efforts are justified., Methods: Faculty who were present for the 10 consecutive study years at an allopathic emergency medicine residency retrospectively evaluated residents on their overall performance, medical knowledge, and interpersonal skills. Residency graduates were surveyed regarding their current position, hours of clinical practice, academic, teaching and leadership roles, and publications. We compared match position to performance using graphical techniques as the primary form of analysis., Results: Ten faculty evaluated the 107 residents who graduated from the program during these 10 years by class year. Eighty-four residents responded to the survey. In general, we found little correlation between NRMP rank and faculty rank of resident performance. There was also little correlation between position in the NRMP rank list and the probability of having an academic career, publishing research, or having a teaching or leadership role., Conclusion: We found that the position on our NRMP rank list was of little value in predicting which residents would do best in residency or take on academic or leadership roles once graduated. Residencies should evaluate the processes they use to generate their rank list to determine whether the ranking process is sufficiently predictive to warrant the effort expended., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: By the WestJEM article submission agreement, all authors are required to disclose all affiliations, funding sources and financial or management relationships that could be perceived as potential sources of bias. Dr. Schriger’s time on this paper was supported in part by an unrestricted grant from the Korein Foundation.

Evidence-based practice (EBP) is becoming standard in today's healthcare arena and home care organizations are not exempt from integrating evidence into practice to improve patient outcomes. There is a scarcity of research literature that examines the behaviors and attitudes of home healthcare nurses (HHNs) regarding EBP. In this study, a descriptive survey design was used to investigate HHNs' a) information-seeking behaviors when providing nursing care, b) administrative support for EBP (as perceived by HHNs), c) attitudes toward EBP, and d) EBP engagement and confidence in providing EBP nursing care. Self-reported data were collected by internet and paper survey. The survey consisted of a 65-item questionnaire that included the Nurses' Attitudes Toward Evidence-Based Practice Scale, which has previously established validity and reliability. A convenience sample of 95 HHNs participated in the study. Results suggest HHNs' EBP attitudes are positive. A positive and significant relationship was found between attitudes and hours worked (r = 0.21, p = 0.047) and educational level (r = 0.45, p = 0.0001); 95% confidence level. Confidence levels in providing EBP care were moderate, and HHNs did not perceive EBP as an agency priority. HHNs need to be supported and encouraged in the facilitation of EBP, a task made easier when they are knowledgeable about EBP, have confidence in their EBP skills, and have the support of their organizations.

Introduction: Medical education is moving toward a competency-based framework with a focus on assessment using the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Milestones. Assessment of individual competencies through milestones can be challenging. While competencies describe characteristics of the person, the entrustable professional activities (EPAs) concept refers to work-related activities. EPAs would not replace the milestones but would be linked to them, integrating these frameworks. Many core specialties have already defined EPAs for resident trainees, but EPAs have not yet been created for emergency medicine (EM). This paper describes the development of milestone-linked EPAs for EM., Methods: Ten EM educators from across North America formed a consensus working group to draft EM EPAs, using a modified Glaser state-of-the-art approach. A reactor panel with EPA experts from the United States, Canada and the Netherlands was created, and an iterative process with multiple revisions was performed based on reactor panel input. Following this, the EPAs were sent to the Council of Residency Directors for EM (CORD-EM) listserv for additional feedback., Results: The product was 11 core EPAs that every trainee from every EM program should be able to perform independently by the time of graduation. Each EPA has associated knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviors (KSAB), which are either milestones themselves or KSABs linked to individual milestones. We recognize that individual programs may have additional focus areas or work-based activities they want their trainees to achieve by graduation; therefore, programs are also encouraged to create additional program-specific EPAs., Conclusion: This set of 11 core, EM-resident EPAs can be used as an assessment tool by EM residency programs, allowing supervising physicians to document the multiple entrustment decisions they are already making during clinical shifts with trainees. The KSAB list within each EPA could assist supervisors in giving specific, actionable feedback to trainees and allow trainees to use this list as an assessment-for-learning tool. Linking each KSAB to individual EM milestones allows EPAs to directly inform milestone assessment for clinical competency committees. These EPAs serve as another option for workplace-based assessment, and are linked to the milestones to create an integrated framework., Competing Interests: Conflicts of Interest: By the WestJEM article submission agreement, all authors are required to disclose all affiliations, funding sources and financial or management relationships that could be perceived as potential sources of bias. No author has professional or financial relationships with any companies that are relevant to this study. There are no conflicts of interest or sources of funding to declare.

Objective: This paper presents data on licensure/certification status, supervision of multidisciplinary pediatric psychosocial staff, and training opportunities in pediatric cancer programs in the United States, data that are critical to provide care aligned with the Standards of Psychosocial Care in Pediatric Cancer (Psychosocial Standards)., Methods: An online survey of psychosocial care consistent with the Psychosocial Standards was completed from a national sample of pediatric cancer programs (144/200). Licensure/certification status, availability and format of supervision for multidisciplinary staff (social workers, psychologists, psychiatrists, child life specialists/recreational therapists), and types and number of psychosocial trainees were reported., Results: Nearly all pediatric psychosocial providers were licensed/certified. Peer consultation was the most frequently endorsed form of staff supervision although a sizeable group of centers reported no systematic ongoing supervision. Trainees in social work and child life were most common although the size of trainee cohorts is generally small. Psychosocial trainees are more prevalent in sites with pediatric hematology/oncology medical fellowship programs and in larger programs., Conclusions: A properly trained and supported psychosocial workforce is essential to providing evidence-based care consistent with the Psychosocial Standards. Psychosocial providers are appropriately licensed. However, supervision opportunities are variable and may be inadequate for the intensity of the work. It is important to address the limited opportunities for trainees in pediatric cancer programs, which may influence the pipeline for ongoing and future work in this area., (© 2018 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.)

An evidence-based approach to Public/Community Health Nursing (P/CHN) requires that P/CHN educators prepare practitioners with the relevant skills, attitudes, and knowledge. Such education should be competency-based and have measurable outcomes to demonstrate student preparation. In 2003, the Quad Council competencies were developed to be applied at two levels of public health nursing practice: the staff nurse/generalist role and the manager/specialist/consultant role. This paper describes a process for evaluation and revision of a graduate curriculum to prepare Advanced Practice Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) in P/CHN, to ensure that the educational program addresses and develops knowledge and proficiency in all relevant competencies. This paper documents the process of integrating the competencies throughout the P/CHN graduate curriculum at varying levels, guiding students to achieve proficiency in each competency by the end of the program. Measurement of achievement in these competencies will be discussed, and examples provided. Advanced Practice Public Health Nurses educated via this competency-based approach will be prepared to sit for national certification as a CNS in Public/Community Health, and to assume leadership roles in public health nursing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There has been rapid growth of chiropractors pursuing career opportunities in both public and private hospitals and other integrated care settings. Chiropractors that prosper in integrated care settings deliver patient-centered care, focus on the institutional mission, understand and adhere to organizational rules, and are proficient in navigating complex systems. The Council on Chiropractic Education Accreditation Standards do not outline specific meta-competencies for integrated care clinical training. Objective: The purpose of this study was to develop preliminary integrated health care competencies for DC programs to guide the advancement of clinical chiropractic education. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed. Articles were screened for eligibility and extracted in duplicate. Domains and seed statements were generated from this literature, piloted at a conference workshop, and evaluated via a modified Delphi consensus process. Of 42 invited, 36 chiropractors participated as panelists. Public comment period yielded 20 comments, none resulting in substantive changes to the competencies. Results: Of 1718 citations, 23 articles met eligibility criteria. After 2 modified Delphi rounds, consensus was reached on all competency statements. A total of 78 competency statements were agreed upon, which encompassed 4 domains and 11 subdomains. The 4 domains were: 1) Collaboration, (2) Clinical Excellence, (3) Communication, and (4) Systems Administration. Conclusion: We identified 78 preliminary competencies appropriate for preparing DC students and early career chiropractors for clinical practice in integrated healthcare settings. Educational programs may consider these competencies for curricular design and reform to strengthen DC program graduates for integrated practice, advanced training, and employment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Rural communities are disproportionately impacted by acute shortages of mental health providers. This problem, combined with complex behavioral health conditions, elicited the need for a university-based, remote telepsychiatric traineeship for newly board certified psychiatric–mental health nurse practitioners (PMHNPs). Method: The Psychiatric Advanced Practice Registered Nurse TechNology Enhanced Residency (PARTNER) Program was developed to advance behavioral health equity by increasing state-wide access to care, removing geographical barriers, and enhancing PMHNP workforce readiness by strengthening trainees' ability to manage complex behavioral health conditions. Results: In a southeastern state over a period of 3 years, six PMHNPs cumulatively provided behavioral health services to 1,195 patients, managed >118 diagnoses, and completed 3,535 visits, with 95.6% of visits comprising provision of care to patients residing in rural areas. Conclusion: Care was provided through the implementation of a collaborative-interdisciplinary-care model provided by route of telehealth and comprising a partnership between PMHNPs and patients' primary care providers. The training program enhanced providers' clinical proficiency, improved patient outcomes, and increased the number of skilled providers trained to manage patients with complex behavioral health conditions. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 62(8), 19–24.] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The Next Accreditation System implemented 5 levels of milestones for orthopedic surgery residents in 2013. The Level 1 milestones were noted as those "expected of an incoming resident." While the milestones were intended for assessing resident progression and readiness for independent practice, this designation can also be used to assess how well prepared graduating medical students are for beginning an orthopedic surgery residency. The primary objective of this paper is to measure recent medical school graduate comfort with the Level 1 milestones., Design, Setting, and Participants: In June 2015, the program directors for the Midwest Orthopaedic Surgical Skills (MOSS) Consortium affiliated residency programs were sent an online survey for distribution to the recent medical school graduates who matched at their respective programs. The survey was about recent graduate comfort with the Level 1 milestone handles associated with 16 orthopedic milestones spanning multiple subspecialties. Responses were grouped based on comfort with individual milestone handles with orthopedic conditions (e.g., carpal tunnel) or with broader categories spanning orthopedic milestones (e.g., imaging)., Results: In all, 66 of 112 graduates (58.9%) responded. Of 60 milestone handles surveyed, respondents were "Comfortable" with an average of 31.6 ± 14.2 handles with some conditions performing much better than others. The median "Comfortable" response rate was 31 handles. The 8 broader categories had "Comfortable" response rates between 35% and 70%. All 8 orthopedic conditions had significantly higher "Comfortable" response rates for "Evaluation & Knowledge" handles than for "Decision Making & Treatment" handles., Conclusions: Most recent medical student graduates who matched into an orthopedic surgery residencies are only comfortable with about half of the Level 1 milestone handles even though they are expected to meet the Level 1 milestones upon beginning residency. This finding suggests the development of an assessment based on the Level 1 milestones would be appropriate to better inform both graduate and undergraduate medical education in orthopedic surgery., (Copyright © 2017 Association of Program Directors in Surgery. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)