Medical Professionalism
A Closer Look at the American
Board of Internal Medicine’s
Physician Charter
What is Medical Professionalism?
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Basis of medicine’s contract with society
Prompts a thorough examination of
underlying causes of illness
Places interests of patients above those
of physician, provides expert advice on
health to society, and maintains
standards of competence and integrity
Many challenges impede medical
professionalism
http://physiciansforhumanrights.o
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Fundamental Principles of ABIM
Physician Charter
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Principle of primacy of patient welfare
to provide patient-centered care
Principle of patient autonomy in which
physicians must be honest with their
patients
Principle of social justice to eliminate
discrimination in health care
Professional Responsibilities of
ABIM Physician Charter
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Commitment
Commitment
Commitment
Commitment
patients
Commitment
Commitment
Commitment
Commitment
Commitment
interest
Commitment
to professional competence
to honesty with patients
to patient confidentiality
to maintaining appropriate relations with
to improving quality of care
to improving access to care
to a just distribution of finite resources
to scientific knowledge
to maintaining trust by managing conflicts of
to professional responsibilities
Human Rights Basis for
Professionalism in Health Care
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Improve patient care by enhancing
cultural competency, recognizing root
causes of disease, and helping people
stay healthier longer
Build community health to provide
accessible, affordable, and quality care
Enhance health policy by using human
rights to advocate for closing of racial
disparities
AAAQ Framework
Availability- health facilities, goods, and
services must be available in sufficient
quantity
 Accessibility- health services must be
accessible to everyone without discrimination
 Acceptability- health services must be
respectful of medical ethics, culturally
appropriate and gender sensitive
 Quality- health services must be scientifically
and medically appropriate and of good quality
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Environmental Forces that Affect
Physician Behavior
Payment policy- health care services are
compensated at different levels and physicians
may be inclined to use more or less services
 Organizational strategies- need for a renewed
focus on mission and culture change, an
electronic health record, and a performance
measurement system
 Public performance- encouraged to embrace
public reporting that supports continuous
quality improvement in practice
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