Professionalism

Question 1

How is professionalism demonstrated

Answer 1

through a foundation of clinical competence, communication skills, and ethical and legal understanding; upon which is built the aspiration to and wise applications of professionalism: excellence, humanism, accountability, and altruism.

Question 2

base layer of professionalism

Answer 2

clinical competence, communication skills, ethical and legal understanding

Question 3

pillars of professionalism

Answer 3

excellence, humanism, accountability, altruism

Question 4

Professionalism encompasses

Answer 4

A commitment to the highest standards of excellence in the practice of medicine and in the generation and dissemination of knowledge

• sustain the interests and welfare of patients
• the healthcare needs of society

Question 5

Altruism

Answer 5

an unselfish regard for or devotion to the welfare of others

Question 6

Accountability

Answer 6

Physicians are accountable to their patients, to society, to their profession

Question 7

Accountability: duty

Answer 7

being available if on call, enduring unavoidable risks to self when patients welfare is at stake, advocating the best possible care regardless of ability to pay, being active in professional organizations, volunteering for the welfare of the community

Question 8

Excellence

Answer 8

a conscientous effort to exceed ordinary expectations and to make a commitment to life long learning (to exceed minimal standards)

• • A dedication to quality care and patient safety
• Promote the expansion of scientific knowledge

Question 9

Humanism: honor and integrity

Answer 9

The consistent regard for the highest standards of behavior

• fairness, truthfulness, meeting commitments
• Avoid conflicts of interest that supercede the best interest of the patient

Question 10

Humanism: respect for others

Answer 10

The commitment to honor others choices and rights regarding themselves and their medical care.

• Respect includes sensitivity to culture, age gender, and disability
• Respect requires confidentiality, privacy and informed consent

Question 11

Humanism: compassion and empathy

Answer 11

Empathy is the action of understanding, being aware of, being sensitive to the thoughts, feelings, and experience of another

• Compassion is to be moved by the suffering or distress of another and to have a desire to relieve it
• Compassion extends to peers, colleagues and self

Question 12

the best way to emphasize the importance of professionalism is to

Answer 12

illustrate by example

Question 13

What undermines professionalism

Answer 13

Abuse of power
Arrogance
Greed
Misrepresentation
Impairment
Lack of conscientiousness
Conflict of interest

Question 14

Abuse of power

Answer 14

A high level of respect for our profession offers a tremendous power to physicians

Question 15

Levels at which abuse of power can occur

Answer 15

interactions with patients and colleagues

• bias and sexual harassment
• breach of confidentiality

Question 16

Arrogance

Answer 16

it is the offensive display of superiority and self importance. It denotes haughtiness, vanity, insolence, and disdain

Question 17

3 ways in which arrogance destroys the profession

Answer 17

1. It reduces the physicians ability to act as a participant of a team approach
2. It makes empathy for the patient difficult
3. It removes the beneficial role of self doubt

Question 18

Greed

Answer 18

It is the inappropriate aspiration of fame, power, or money

• When money becomes a driving force, greed predominates and professionalism is eroded
• With greed there is no room for understanding, compassion, or other good
• When greed exists, altruism and integrity are compromised significantly

Question 19

Misrepresentation

Answer 19

It consists of lying and fraud

• Fraud occurs in both medical practice and research
• Fraud involves lying about which services were performed or misrepresentation of data or experiements

Question 20

Impairment

Answer 20

Physicians who are impaired in their ability to discharge their professional obligations must relinquish their responsibility in caring for patients; and professional colleagues must see that this standard is maintained

Question 21

Lack of conscientiousness

Answer 21

Failure to fulfill a responsibility

Question 22

Conflicts of interest

Answer 22

Defined as any situation in which the interest of the physician is placed above that of the patient