Table 2.
Common Professional Behavior Competencies Relevant to All Clinical Cardiovascular Disease Specialists
| SYSTEMS-BASED PRACTICE | All Specialists | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Incorporate risk-benefit analysis, cost, resource, and value considerations into care of patients with cardiovascular disease. | X |
| 2. | Identify and address financial, cultural, and social barriers to adherence with patient care recommendations, including social and economic determinants of health. | X |
| 3. | Participate in practice-based continuous quality improvement and safety initiatives. | X |
| 4. | Maintain continuity of care with efficient and effective handoffs through transitions of care. | X |
| 5. | Identify barriers to learning and prioritize education for patients with cardiovascular disease. | X |
| 6. | Develop, implement, and evaluate individualized, patient-centered educational strategies. | X |
| 7. | Incorporate new therapies and clinical trial data into individualized patient care plans, including strategies to ensure that minorities and women receive the same evidence-based care as majority groups. | X |
| 8. | Participate in hospital-based and regional systems of care for patients with urgent and emergent cardiovascular conditions. | X |
| 9. | Identify and address barriers that affect the ability of health care professionals to provide optimal cardiovascular care. | X |
| 10. | Collaborate with all cardiovascular care team members to reduce avoidable hospitalizations for cardiovascular disease. | X |
| 11. | Collaborate with physicians and health care professionals in other disciplines to optimize the care of patients with complex and multisystem disease. | X |
| 12. | Recognize and reduce the role of implicit and explicit biases in access to care within health care systems. | X |
| Evaluation Tools: chart review, direct observation, multisource evaluation | ||
| PRACTICE-BASED LEARNING AND IMPROVEMENT | All Specialists | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Identify personal knowledge gaps and seek educational and training opportunities to improve knowledge, skills, and performance. | X |
| 2. | Utilize clinical practice guidelines, appropriate use criteria, and other information tools at the point of care to improve clinical decision-making. | X |
| 3. | Maintain current standards of care by performing literature searches, interpreting data, and applying results to clinical care. | X |
| 4. | Solicit and incorporate feedback from patients, colleagues, and other health care team members to improve clinical performance. | X |
| 5. | Use health record and registry data to assess appropriateness, quality, equity, and safety of cardiovascular care. | X |
| 6. | Develop the practice of lifelong learning, including regular review of journals and practice guidelines/appropriate use criteria/consensus statements and attendance at scientific and continuing medical education meetings. | X |
| 7. | Recognize and reduce the role of implicit and explicit biases in clinical decision-making. | X |
| Evaluation Tools: case logs, chart review, conference presentation, direct observation, multisource evaluation, quality improvement project, reflection and self-assessment | ||
| PROFESSIONALISM | All Specialists | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Demonstrate respect, consideration, and empathy for patients, families, and all members of the health care team. | X |
| 2. | Purposefully engage with individuals of different demographic and socioeconomic backgrounds to enhance cultural awareness. | X |
| 3. | Recognize and reduce the role of implicit and explicit biases in interpersonal relationships. | X |
| 4. | Practice within the scope of personal expertise, training, and technical skills. | X |
| 5. | Recognize the need for and obtain consultations in a timely manner. | X |
| 6. | Know current evidence-based clinical practice guidelines, consensus statements, appropriate use criteria, and performance measures relevant to scope of practice. | X |
| 7. | Identify, disclose, and manage relationships with industry and other entities to minimize bias and undue influence on clinical decision-making. | X |
| 8. | Demonstrate high ethical standards in personal and professional conduct. | X |
| 9. | Take responsibility and follow through on professional commitments and obligations in a timely manner. | X |
| 10. | Identify potential for impaired professional performance in oneself and colleagues and take action to mitigate. | X |
| 11. | Attend to one’s own health, well-being, and abilities to maximize personal and professional performance. | X |
| Evaluation Tools: direct observation, multisource evaluation, reflection and self-assessment | ||
| INTERPERSONAL AND COMMUNICATION SKILLS | All Specialists | |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | Assess and manage human responses experienced by individuals with cardiovascular disease (eg, depression, spiritual distress, nonadherence, decisional conflict). | X |
| 2. | Communicate with patients, families, and other health care professionals in an effective, timely, and culturally competent manner. | X |
| 3. | Engage patients in shared decision-making based on balanced presentation of potential risks, benefits, and alternatives, factoring in patients’ values and preferences. | X |
| 4. | Review medical records, complete documentation, and communicate results of diagnostic findings and management strategies to patients and collaborating health care professionals in a timely manner. | X |
| 5. | Lead and collaborate in interdisciplinary and cardiovascular care teams to promote a culture of well-being, diversity, and inclusion. | X |
| 6. | Compassionately discuss sensitive/difficult topics, including end-of-life care and care of critically ill patients. | X |
| 7. | Provide emotional support to patients and families. | X |
| Evaluation Tools: direct observation, multisource evaluation | ||