Cultural Sensitivity - ACGME Competencies

Instruction in Cultural Competence may include settings such as clinical teaching; case-based teaching, mentoring, interactive workshops; lectures/seminars; institutional initiatives; role modeling, and mentoring, where aspects related to cultural sensitivity can be more easily discussed.

Here are a number of other resources that may also be useful to you in the development and implementation of program's approach to competency and outcomes assessment and improvement. The information contained in these approaches reflects those undertaken by your UMMC's colleagues, as well as others in your profession to integrate cultural competence into their training at a program and/or institution.

UMMC's Psychiatry program residents and faculty participate in a Cultural Diversity Day (CDD) which includes panel and small group discussions. An award is presented during the CDD to a Psychiatry resident demonstrating tolerance, empathy, and dedication.

UMMC's Pediatrics program developed web-based self-directed learning activities. Residents view case studies involving patients from diverse backgrounds. Residents are required to examine issues related to racial, cultural and disability issues. First year residents participate in this learning activity as part of an "academic block". Please contact the UMMC GME Department for more information.

UMMC's Orthopaedic Surgery requires first-year residents to complete the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons training module, Are You Culturally Competent? during new resident orientation. Please contact the UMMC GME Department for more information.

The American Board of Internal Medicine has a wide variety of evaluation tools for use with the internal medicine residents, which include use of praise/concern cards to document and evaluate cultural sensitivity, including a 360-evaluation process that incorporates this aspects of the Professionalism competency.

The American Medical Association has developed a free online resource for cultural sensitivity education. Each month a new topic on Professionalism is presented; some topics are generics, while others are specialty specific. All topics are archived, thus allow you to search for topics relevant to your residency program.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons developed a training module Cultural Competency Challenge, used to test the cultural competence (IQ) of residents, faculty and other support staff.

ACGME has developed a guide to provide an educational resource for program directors and other medical educators, Advancing Education in Medical Professionalism, to aid teaching and assessing Professionalism.