Core Competencies

Call to Action:

The AAN is seeking the assistance of its CME program directors and faculty in identifying presentations within AAN CME programming in relation to the core competencies. Specifically, AAN program directors and faculty are asked to review the list of core competencies and their elements (see External Links) and identify which competencies the CME program and/or its constituent presentations addresses.

Background:

The AAN is embarking on an endeavor of identifying its CME offerings in relation to the core competencies that are currently delineated for neurologists by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS), Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), and American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN). This will allow attendees to identify the CME programs that include presentations addressing specific core competencies which will become increasingly important as the various phases of ABPN-mandated Maintenance of Certification are implemented, assist Neurology Residency Program Directors and Residents in meeting the core competencies, and allow the AAN to evaluate the impact of the core competencies and provide feedback to the ABPN and ACGME. To follow is a brief background on the core competencies based on information gathered from the ABPN, ABMS, and ACGME.

What Are Core Competencies?

According to the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) definition, core competencies are those skills and abilities that are central to, or "at the core" of, a given field. In a medical specialty, core competencies represent what physician specialists should be able to do in order to be considered competent in their fields.

The specific core competencies as currently delineated for neurologists and agreed upon by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) include: Patient Care, Medical Knowledge, Interpersonal and Communication Skills, Practice-Based Learning and Improvement, Professionalism, and Systems-Based Practice.

Why should neurologists be knowledgeable about core competencies?

Core competencies impact a physician's lifelong learning in neurological education. Core competencies impact a neurology resident's life by way of the ACGME mandating that all Neurology Programs teach and evaluate residents based on the core competencies. The core competencies impact the practicing/academic physician's life by way of the ABPN Maintenance of Certification program. In terms of continuing medical education (CME), the umbrella under which your Annual Meeting program falls, the core competency movement requires that all physicians educate themselves on an ongoing basis, document the efficacy of that education and demonstrate in some way application of that education to their practice.

Specific Steps for CME Program Directors and Faculty Directors: When completing your program information forms on-line, please identify which of the core competencies your program covers. All speakers should review the selected core competencies identified for the program prior to preparing his/her syllabus, PowerPoint presentation, and on-site talk.