The seventh competency.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Patient Safety
• Healthcare Ethics

Background:

• Disclosure of medical error is increasingly recognized as an ethical obligation in healthcare.
• Residency training programs often lack curricula addressing medical error identification and disclosure.
• Competence in managing adverse events and medical errors is not typically assessed during residency.

Purpose of the Study:

• To advocate for the formal recognition of medical error recognition and disclosure as a core competency in physician training.
• To encourage the development of innovative teaching and assessment methods for medical error disclosure skills.
• To highlight the benefits of improved training in medical error disclosure for residents, programs, and patients.

Main Methods:

• The study proposes a conceptual framework for integrating medical error disclosure into residency curricula.
• It suggests a shift in recognizing and assessing physician competencies.
• The proposal is based on the ethical imperative and practical need for improved patient safety.

Main Results:

• Current residency training inadequately prepares physicians for medical error identification and disclosure.
• Existing competencies do not fully encompass the unique skills required for effective medical error management.
• A dedicated competency in medical error recognition and disclosure is needed.

Conclusions:

• Medical error recognition and disclosure should be established as a seventh core competency for physicians.
• Residency program directors should develop novel educational strategies and assessment tools for this competency.
• Implementing this competency will enhance training, benefit residents, and improve patient outcomes and societal trust.