Beyond the Procedure Log: Using Individualized Learning Plans to Set Learner-Specific Milestones for Procedural...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Internal Medicine Training

Background:

• Accreditation changes impact procedural competency guidance in nonsurgical fields.
• This creates both opportunities and challenges for trainee and program development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current procedural education strategies in nonsurgical fields using internal medicine as an example.
• To explore the role of Individualized Learning Plans (ILPs) in addressing the need for learner-specific terminal milestones.

Main Methods:

• Review of current procedural education strategies (simulation, rotations, subspecialty training).
• Exploration of ILPs for setting milestones, guiding skill acquisition, and allocating procedural opportunities.
• Examination of ILP implementation in clinical training programs.

Main Results:

• ILPs can serve as a framework for organizing procedural training and setting learner-specific objectives.
• ILPs can guide skill acquisition and allocate learning opportunities based on career plans.
• Implementation requires consideration of coaching programs and potential limitations.

Conclusions:

• ILPs, despite limitations, can enhance procedural competence when integrated with other strategies.
• This approach may lead to more effective, safer, and equitable procedural practice allocation for trainees.