The core competencies of Morristown Medical Center’s Geriatric Fellowship Program consists of rotations, a didactic curriculum, scholarly activity, standardized and non-standardized patient exercises, computer modules and a set of electives. Fellows and faculty alike are continually evaluated to ensure success.
Patient Care
Fellows must provide patient care that is compassionate, appropriate and effective for the treatment of medical problems and the promotion of wellness. They will be expected to:
- Communicate effectively and demonstrate caring and respectful behaviors when interacting with patients and their families
- Gather essential and accurate information about their patients
- Make informed decisions about diagnostic and therapeutic interventions based on patient information and preferences, up-to-date scientific evidence, and clinical judgment
- Develop and carry out patient management plans
- Counsel and educate patients and their families
- Use information technology to support patient care decisions and education
- Perform competently all medical and invasive procedures considered essential for the area of practice
- Provide health care services aimed at preventing health problems or maintaining wellness
- Work with health care professionals, including those from other disciplines, to provide patient-focused care
Medical Knowledge
Fellows must demonstrate knowledge about established and evolving biomedical, clinical, and cognate (e.g. epidemiological and social-behavioral) sciences and how they are applied in patient care. They will be expected to:
- Demonstrate an investigatory and analytic thinking approach to clinical situations
- Know and apply the basic and clinically supportive sciences that are appropriate to their discipline
Practice-Based Learning and Improvement
Fellows must investigate and evaluate their patient care practices, and appraise and assimilate scientific evidence to make improvements in care. They will be expected to:
- Analyze practice experience and perform practice-based improvement activities using a systematic methodology
- Locate, appraise and assimilate evidence from scientific studies related to their patients’ health problems
- Obtain and use information about their own patients and the larger population from which they are drawn
- Apply knowledge of study designs and statistical methods to the appraisal of clinical studies and diagnostic and therapeutic measures
- Use technology to manage information, access on-line medical data and support their own education
- Facilitate the learning of students and other health care professionals
Interpersonal and Communication Skills
Fellows must demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in effective information exchange and partner with patients, their patients’ families and professional associates. They will be expected to:
- Create and sustain a therapeutic and ethically sound relationship with patients
- Use effective listening skills and provide information using effective nonverbal, explanatory, questioning and writing skills
- Work effectively with others as a member or leader of a health care team or other professional group
Professionalism
Fellows must demonstrate a commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities, adherence to ethical principles and sensitivity to a diverse patient population. They will be expected to:
- Show respect, compassion and integrity
- Put the needs of patients and society above their self-interest
- Have accountability to patients, society, and the profession
- Demonstrate a commitment to excellence and on-going professional development
- Abide by ethical principles pertaining to provision or withholding of clinical care, confidentiality of patient information, informed consent and business practices
- Be sensitive and responsive to patients’ culture, age, gender and disabilities
Systems-Based Practice
Fellows must demonstrate an awareness to the larger context and system of health care and the ability to effectively call on system resources to provide care that is of optimal value. They will be expected to:
- Understand how their patient care and professional behavior affects other health care professionals, the health care organization, the larger society and their own practice
- Know how types of medical practice and delivery systems differ from one another, including methods of controlling health care costs and allocating resources
- Practice cost-effective health care and resource allocation that does not compromise quality of care
- Advocate for quality patient care and assist patients in dealing with system complexities
- Know how to partner with health care managers and providers to assess, coordinate and improve health care, while understanding how these activities can affect system performance
