Designing and Implementing a Competency-Based Training Program for Anesthesiology Residents at the University of Ottawa

Abstract

Competency-based medical education is gaining traction as a solution to address the challenges associated with the current time-based models of physician training. Competency-based medical education is an outcomes-based approach that involves identifying the abilities required of physicians and then designing the curriculum to support the achievement and assessment of these competencies. This paradigm defies the assumption that competence is achieved based on time spent on rotations and instead requires residents to demonstrate competence. The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada (RCPSC) has launched Competence by Design (CBD), a competency-based approach for residency training and specialty practice. The first residents to be trained within this model will be those in medical oncology and otolaryngology-head and neck surgery in July, 2016. However, with approval from the RCPSC, the Department of Anesthesiology, University of Ottawa, launched an innovative competency-based residency training program July 1, 2015. The purpose of this paper is to provide an overview of the program and offer a blueprint for other programs planning similar curricular reform. The program is structured according to the RCPSC CBD stages and addresses all CanMEDS roles. While our program retains some aspects of the traditional design, we have made many transformational changes.

Competency Based Learning of Interns in Spirometry

“…[2] Tests like spirometry which require certain expertise to perform and interpret the results can be well taught during internship. This study shows significant results in competency based learning in interns, therefore validates the need for involvement of basic departments too in the training of interns.…”

“…It involves designing of curriculum to support the achievement and assessment of the communication and technical skills and ability to interpret the results for patient management. [2] Aims And Objectives 1. The IMG is competent to perform spirometry 2.…”

Curriculum reform for residency training: competence, change, and opportunities for leadership

“…26 Much like the Toronto Orthopedic Surgery program, the Ottawa Anesthesia program will use targeted simulation training sessions and frequent assessments. A central part of the mission of the Ottawa program is to examine whether the length of anesthesia residency training can be shortened through innovative educational methods and appropriate assessment.…”

Preparing anesthesiology faculty for competency-based medical education

“…On July 1, 2015, the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Ottawa implemented a CBME program. 2,3 In this paper, we discuss the need for faculty development when implementing CBME, outline our efforts to prepare faculty to teach and assess residents within this new training paradigm, and share our experiences preparing faculty for CBME.…”