Competencies & Learning Objectives

Consensus Curriculum on Diagnosis

Individual Competencies

Individual competencies relate to the knowledge, skills and attitudes that a health care professional must demonstrate on an individual level in order to contribute in their specific role to the diagnostic process.

Team-Based Competencies

Team-based competencies relate to the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that a health care professional must demonstrate in collaboration as a member of the diagnostic team.

System-Based Competencies

Systems-based competencies relate to the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that a health care professional must demonstrate in relation to how the diagnostic process operates within a particular health care system.

Individual Competencies

Demonstrate clinical reasoning to arrive at a justifiable diagnosis (an explanation for a health-related condition).

Diagnostic Testing

Use these tools appropriately and efficiently in the diagnostic process: Effective interpersonal communication skills, history-taking, the physical examination, and record review; diagnostic testing; and the electronic health record and health IT resources.

Health IT and the EHR

Use these tools appropriately and efficiently in the diagnostic process: Effective interpersonal communication skills, history-taking, the physical examination, and record review; diagnostic testing; and the electronic health record and health IT resources.

Team-Based Competencies

Partner effectively as part of an interprofessional diagnostic team. Communicate effectively and solicit information from all members of the team (including the patient and family) to create a shared mental model of a patient’s illness and the plan for diagnostic evaluation.

System-Based Competencies

Identify and understand the systems factors that facilitate and contribute to timely, accurate diagnoses and error avoidance.

Medical educator sitting with students

Milestones for Assessing Competency

Assessing competency in each area can be facilitated by using milestones.