Competency-based professionalism in anesthesiology: Continuing Professional Development

Fulfilling the current societal expectations for professionalism in medicine requires a clear understanding of the specific skills, attitudes, and behaviours expected of practitioners. This Continuing Professional Development (CPD) module discusses professionalism as it relates to the practice of anesthesiology.

While many of the attributes of the professional are generic, performance expectations must be interpreted in a specialty-specific context. Anesthesiologists face challenges to their professionalism in the time-constrained, highly technical and stressful operating room environment. Ongoing shifts in the models of health care delivery require the adaptation of anesthesiology practice to meet changing demands. Consequently, anesthesiologists’ practice environment has extended into preoperative assessment units, acute pain services, and perioperative medicine. Application of principles of biomedical ethics, understanding of medico-legal and regulatory aspects of practice, and attention to personal health and career sustainability are intrinsic aspects of professional practice. More recently, focus on adverse event management and continuous quality improvement has created the need for specific skill sets, which must be included in training and continuing professional development programs. The medical education literature suggests teaching and evaluation methods suited to the development of competence in all aspects of professionalism. Finally, professionalism requires the availability of remediation programs for learners and practitioners in difficulty.

The attitudes, skills, and behaviours that define professionalism in anesthesiology must be taught and evaluated to establish a basic level of competence by the completion of specialty training. Throughout their careers, anesthesiologists must continue their professional development to meet current and future societal expectations and shifting norms of health care delivery.