Mr. Young's doctor: how must physicians be prepared for practice?

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Services Research
• Healthcare Policy

Background:

• Increasing patient access to performance data and medical records is transforming healthcare.
• Patients are exercising greater control over medical decision-making.
• The Institute of Medicine has outlined six key aims for healthcare: safety, effectiveness, patient-centeredness, timeliness, efficiency, and equity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the implications of patient empowerment through data and record ownership on medical practice.
• To examine the necessary changes in physician preparation to meet future healthcare demands.
• To identify essential qualities for physicians to deliver high-quality, patient-centered care.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis of healthcare trends and their impact on medical practice.
• Review of Institute of Medicine healthcare aims.
• Identification of key characteristics for graduating medical students and residents at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine.

Main Results:

• Publicly available performance data and patient record ownership empower patients.
• Healthcare requires new operational rules and educational goals to adapt.
• The University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine has defined eight key characteristics for future physicians.

Conclusions:

• Physician preparation must evolve to incorporate patient empowerment and data-driven healthcare.
• Medical education needs to focus on qualities essential for safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable care.
• Defining key graduate characteristics is crucial for equipping physicians for the future of medicine.