Competency VI - The Social and Community Contexts of Health Care

Definitions / Levels of achievement / Assessment criteria

I. Definitions

The competent graduate:

• recognizes the diverse factors that influence the health of individuals and communities;

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• identifies the sociocultural, familial, psychological, economic, environmental, legal, political, and spiritual factors impacting health care and health care delivery;

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• and responds to these factors by planning and advocating the appropriate course of action at both the individual and community level.

II. Levels of Achievement

A. Level One

• Students reflect on and acknowledge their own cultural and spiritual traditions, as well as gender, class and sexual socialization experiences. They can articulate ways that these factors influence their approach to medical practice.

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• Students display nonjudgmental attitudes towards disparate value systems and beliefs.

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• They explore the role of community services through site visits, discussions with staff and patients, and observation of the provision of services. (Students could act as health advocates by participating in community service activities, which improve the health and welfare of at-risk populations.)

B. Level Two

• Students elicit and identify nonbiologic factors as part of routine history-taking, including appropriate issues in their problem list formulations and management plans.

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• They serve as patient advocates in identifying appropriate resources, matching patient needs to community services, and facilitating referrals.

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• Students are aware of, respect, and will engage the familial, cultural, and spiritual supports in the care of the patient.

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• Students function as responsible team members.

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• They understand the importance of outreach, health advocacy initiatives, as tools to increase the utilization of care and to improve the health status of the population.

C. Level Three

• Students proactively exercise initiative and leadership.

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• They generalize individual and family problems they have seen to a broader community context.

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• Students stay current with local, national health care issues. They analyze community health issues recognizing the contribution of political, sociological, cultural and economic factors.

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• Students act and accept personal responsibility for advocacy through contributions of time, medical expertise and other support for practices, policies improving health in individuals and populations.

III. Assessment Criteria

A. Recognizes many nonbiologic factors influencing health, disease, disability, and access to care.

B. Utilizes community resources to promote health, prevent disease, and manage illness.

C. Advocates for better health of patients and the community.

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