Emerging concepts in the CanMEDS physician competency framework

Abstract

Background: The CanMEDS physician competency framework will be updated in 2025. The revision occurs during a time of disruption and transformation to society, healthcare, and medical education caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and growing acknowledgement of the impacts of colonialism, systemic discrimination, climate change, and emerging technologies on healthcare and training. To inform this revision, we sought to identify emerging concepts in the literature related to physician competencies. Methods: Emerging concepts were defined as ideas discussed in the literature related to the roles and competencies of physicians that are absent or underrepresented in the 2015 CanMEDS framework. We conducted a literature scan, title and abstract review, and thematic analysis to identify emerging concepts. Metadata for all articles published in five medical education journals between October 1, 2018 and October 1, 2021 were extracted. Fifteen authors performed a title and abstract review to identify and label underrepresented concepts. Two authors thematically analyzed the results to identify emerging concepts. A member check was conducted. Results: 1017 of 4973 (20.5%) of the included articles discussed an emerging concept. The thematic analysis identified ten themes: Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice; Anti-racism; Physician Humanity; Data-Informed Medicine; Complex Adaptive Systems; Clinical Learning Environment; Virtual Care; Clinical Reasoning; Adaptive Expertise; and Planetary Health. All themes were endorsed by the authorship team as emerging concepts. Conclusion: This literature scan identified ten emerging concepts to inform the 2025 revision of the CanMEDS physician competency framework. Open publication of this work will promote greater transparency in the revision process and support an ongoing dialogue on physician competence. Writing groups have been recruited to elaborate on each of the emerging concepts and how they could be further incorporated into CanMEDS 2025.

Emerging Concepts in the Paramedicine Literature to Inform the Revision of a pan-Canadian Competency Framework for Paramedics: A Restricted Review

“…Our study identified eleven emerging concepts in the literature that could guide or inform the development of paramedic competencies. Each of these concepts is broad, and similar to the findings of Thoma et al [17], they mirror broader influences in paramedicine, healthcare, and society as a whole over the last decade. We will now briefly discuss a number of observations in our findings.…”

“…Informed by the findings of Thoma et al [17] and Van Melle [18], we modified their original terms to reflect the differences in language between physicians and paramedics, and to reflect elements guiding the methodology of the NOSP development process such as the principles guiding paramedicine in Canada [5] and a systems thinking conceptual framework [9]. One author (AB) analysed the extracted data and deductively categorised results into emerging concepts.…”

Emerging Concepts in the Paramedicine Literature to Inform the Revision of a Pan-Canadian Competency Framework for Paramedics: A Restricted Review

“…We conducted continuous content analysis to identify emerging concepts that were related to or could inform paramedic competencies. Informed by the frameworks of Thoma et al [ 17 ] and Van Melle [ 18 ], we modified their original emerging concepts to reflect: a) the differences in language between physicians and paramedics; and b) the methodology of the NOSP development [ 5 , 9 ]. For example, we changed 'physician humanism' [ 17 ] to 'healthy professionals' [ 5 ].…”

Virtual Care in CanMEDS 2025

“…2 Despite multiple calls for specific VC training, [3][4][5][6] these concepts were identified as being underrepresented in the 2015 CanMEDS physician competency framework 7 by a recent literature review. 8 CanMEDS 2025 must be updated to reflect these novel competencies, ensuring that today's physicians are able to meet their patients' and societies' evolving needs. For this primer, we propose changes to the CanMEDS competencies that focus on the skills necessary to connect virtually with patients and peers to deliver effective remote consultation and patient care.…”