Competency Goals for AHEC Team Members
by Konrad C. Nau, M.D.

Pew Competency 1 - Embrace a personal ethic of social responsibility and service.

AHEC/RHEP Objective C1d Value community service activity and incorporate service into their professional lives.

Pew Competency 2 - Exhibit ethical behavior in all professional activities.

AHEC/RHEP Objective C1b Respect other members of the health care team, and involve them when appropriate for comprehensive care of the patient.

Pew Competency 3 - Provide evidence-based, clinically competent care.

AHEC/RHEP Objective B1c Special clinical skills for management of patient problems frequently found in WV rural populations, including but not limited to heart disease, diabetes, injury, and care of geriatric populations.

Pew Competency 4 - Incorporate the multiple determinants of health in clinical care.

AHEC/RHEP Objective B2a Understanding of the special health care needs of communities in rural WV.

Pew Competency 5 - Apply knowledge of the new sciences.

Pew Competency 6 - Demonstrate critical thinking, reflection, and problem-solving skills.

AHEC/RHEP Objective C1e Value the need for on-going clinical research in the rural setting, and participate in such research as feasible.

Pew Competency 7 - Understand the role of primary care.

Pew Competency 8 - Rigorously practice preventive health care.

AHEC/RHEP Objective B1e Apply the concepts of primary, secondary and tertiary levels of prevention in dealing with individual and family health needs.

AHEC/RHEP Objective C1h Apply the concepts of primary, secondary, and tertiary levels of prevention in dealing with community health needs.

Pew Competency 9 - Integrate population-based care and services into practice.

AHEC/RHEP Objective B2b Skills in understanding and using data to make population-based decisions or recommendations about a rural community's needs.

AHEC RHEP Objective C1c Recognize that community-based interventions can have a greater impact on the people of WV than just providing one-to-one patients care, and be active in community-based interventions.

Pew Competency 10 - Improve access to health care for those with unmet health needs.

Pew Competency 11 - Practice relationship-centered care with individuals and families.

AHEC/RHEP Objective C1a Respect patients from diverse rural West Virginia communities and provide care "for the whole person" within a bio-psycho-social-spiritual context.

Pew Competency 12 - Provide culturally sensitive care to a diverse society.

AHEC/RHEP Objective B1a Skills at planning and delivering patient care consisted with the rural Appalachian culture, including consideration of health beliefs, geography, economic resources, family resources, etc.

Pew Competency 13 - Partner with communities in health care decisions.

AHEC/RHEP Objective B2c Skills for collaborating with community groups to develop strategies/interventions related to health care or community development issues.

AHEC/RHEP Objective C1f Work with the community to target selected community health problems and facilitate planning of community-based interventions.

Pew Competency 14 - Use communication and information technology effectively and appropriately.

AHEC/RHEP Objective B1g Ability to access information using distance technology, for appropriate patient care and/or continuing education, and ability to guide patients in the use of technology for health-care decision-making.

Pew Competency 15 - Work in interdisciplinary teams.

AHEC/RHEP Objective B1b Skills for working with colleagues from other disciplines as part of the health-care team.

AHEC/RHEP Objective B1i Ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues from other disciplines.

AHEC/RHEP Objective C1b Respect other members of the health care team, and involve them when appropriate for comprehensive care of the patient.

Pew Competency 16 - Ensure care that balances individual, professional, system and societal needs.

AHEC/RHEP Objective B1b Skills in the evaluation of patient and family and community health care outcomes.

Pew Competency 17 - Practice Leadership.

Pew Competency 18 - Take responsibility for quality of care and health outcomes at all levels.

AHEC/RHEP Objective B1f Ability to conduct analysis of one's practice for continuous quality improvement.

AHEC/RHEP Objective C1g Participate in the formulation of population-focused outcomes with attention to health status; risk reduction and services and protection objectives.

Pew Competency 19 - Contribute to continuous improvement of the health care system.

AHEC/RHEP Objective B1f Work with the community to target selected community health problems and facilitate planning of community-based interventions.

Pew Competency 20 - Advocate for public policy that promotes and protects the health of the public.

AHEC/RHEP Objective B2d An understanding of policy development, and skills for addressing policy at the state or local levels.

AHEC/RHEP Objective B2e Skills in community education and advocacy and the ability to develop a public presentation and/or organize a community awareness program. (List to be further refined by Vision Committee, Curriculum Committee and/or School Committee.

AHEC/RHEP Objective C1i Recognize the importance of policy development and participate as feasible.

Pew Competency 21 - Continue to learn and help others learn.

AHEC/RHEP Objective B1d Special patient education skills specific to problems frequently occurring in WV's rural populations, including but not limited to patient education regarding nutrition, exercise safety, and tobacco products.

Konrad C. "K.C." Nau, M.D., is Vice Chairman, Department of Family Medicine, West Virginia University Eastern Division, and Program Director of the WVU Rural Family Health Medicine Residency Program. His contact information is: Harper's Ferry Family Clinic, 31 Taylor Street, Harper's Ferry, WV 25425. Phone: 304.535.6343, ext. 233. Fax: 304.535.6618. E-mail: nauk@rcbhsc.wvu.edu.