Abstract Problem Clinical decision-making for persons with multiple chronic conditions is a challenge because of uncertain benefits and harms of many treatments and variability in what health outcomes are most important to patients. Patient Priorities Care (PPC) is an evidence-based approach to aligning decision-making for persons with multiple chronic conditions with their own health priorities. Curricula for health professional trainees in the PPC approach would equip them with the skills necessary to optimize care for this complex population. However, given the time limitations during medical training, program leadership must prioritize competency-based medical education. The authors determined alignment of internal medicine (IM) resident and family medicine (FM) resident Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) milestones with core PPC skills. Approach From June 2023 through December 2023, PPC at 3 academic institutions examined ACGME milestones for IM and FM residents and identified milestones that overlap with core PPC skills. Then from June 2024 through December 2024, US Program Directors within IM (S.S.) and FM (M.M.B.) reviewed the findings. Outcomes The 8 core skills of PPC align with 13 of the 21 IM ACGME milestones and 10 of the 19 FM ACGME milestones. PPC addresses ACGME IM/FM milestones in patient care, medical knowledge, systems-based practice, practice-based learning and improvement, and interpersonal and communication skills. A pilot PPC curriculum with IM residents demonstrated increased confidence in several core PPC skills. Next Steps After demonstrating milestone alignment, authors are developing educational materials for use in various clinical and educational settings with trainees and also practicing health professionals. Tools to assess skills will be created to guide medical educators who implement the PPC trainings. Following that, authors will work with key stakeholders including IM and FM residents, program directors, and geriatrician clinician-educators to assess the feasibility of implementing a PPC curriculum throughout residency training.
Ouellet et al. (Wed,) studied this question.