1) Patient Care 
Residents must be able to provide patient care that is compassionate, appropriate and effective for the promotion of health, prevention of illness, treatment of disease and care at the end of life. Residents are expected to

• Communicate effectively and demonstrate caring and respectful behaviors when interacting with patients and their families
• Gather essential and accurate information about their patients
• Make informed decisions about diagnostic and therapeutic interventions based on patient information and preferences, up-to-date scientific evidence and clinical judgment
• Develop and carry out patient management plans
• Counsel and educate patients and their families
• Use information technology to support patient care decisions and patient education
• Perform competently all medical and invasive procedures considered essential for the area of practice
• Provide health care services aimed at preventing health problems or maintaining health
• Work with health care professionals, including those from other disciplines, to provide patient-focused care

2) Medical Knowledge
Residents must demonstrate knowledge of established and evolving biomedical, clinical and social sciences, as well as the application of this knowledge to patient care and the education of others. Residents are expected to

• Demonstrate an investigatory and analytic thinking approach to clinical situations
• Know and apply the basic and clinically supportive sciences which are appropriate to their discipline

3) Practice-Based Learning and Improvement 
Residents must be able to use scientific methods and evidence to investigate, evaluate and improve their patient care practices. Residents are expected to

• Analyze practice experience and perform practice-based improvement activities using a systematic methodology
• Locate, appraise and assimilate evidence from scientific studies related to their patients’ health problems
• Obtain and use information about their own population of patients and the larger population from which their patients are drawn
• Apply knowledge of study designs and statistical methods to the appraisal of clinical studies and other information on diagnostic and therapeutic effectiveness
• Use information technology to manage information, access online medical information and support their own education
• Facilitate the learning of students and other health care professionals

4) Interpersonal and Communication Skills
Residents must demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that enable them to establish and maintain professional relationships with patients, families, and other members of health care teams. Residents are expected to

• Create and sustain a therapeutic and ethically sound relationship with patients
• Use effective listening skills and elicit and provide information using effective nonverbal, explanatory, questioning and writing skills
• Work effectively with others as a member or leader of a health care team or other professional group

5) Professionalism
Residents must demonstrate behaviors that reflect a commitment to continuous professional development, ethical practice, an understanding and sensitivity to diversity and a responsible attitude toward their patients, their profession and society. Residents are expected to

• Demonstrate respect, compassion and integrity; a responsiveness to the needs of patients and society that supersedes self-interest; accountability to patients, society and the profession; and a commitment to excellence and ongoing professional development
• Demonstrate a commitment to ethical principles pertaining to provision or withholding of clinical care, confidentiality of patient information, informed consent and business practices
• Demonstrate sensitivity and responsiveness to patients’ culture, age, gender and disabilities

6) Systems-Based Practice
Residents must demonstrate an understanding of the contexts and systems in which health care is provided, as well as the ability to apply this knowledge to improve and optimize health care. Residents are expected to

• Understand how their patient care and other professional practices affect other health care professionals, the health care organization and the larger society, as well as how these elements of the system affect their own practice
• Know how types of medical practice and delivery systems differ from one another, including methods of controlling health care costs and allocating resources
• Practice cost-effective health care and resource allocation that does not compromise quality of care
• Advocate for quality patient care and assist patients in dealing with system complexities
• Know how to partner with health care managers and health care providers to assess, coordinate and improve health care and know how these activities can affect system performance

*Adapted from ACGME GENERAL COMPETENCIES Vers. 1.3