Does Competency-Based Training Result in Competent Cardiovascular Trainees?
The assessment and evaluation of physician competency are critical for cardiovascular fellowship programs and, for that matter, all physicians. In general, medical competency is defined as having the ability to understand material, to integrate knowledge into clinical practice, to appreciate context and relationships, and to use skills appropriately.2 Thus, a competent physician requires a strong knowledge base in addition to other skills to practice medicine. No longer is it sufficient to only prove a certain level of medical knowledge to be labeled a competent physician. The concept of the competent physician has now evolved to include character development, maturation, and the ability to work in a complex medical environment. This is the basis for the ACGME’s focus on a competency-based approach to medical education, and the ACGME should be commended for bringing this idea to the forefront of postgraduate education. The notion that a physician is competent to practice medicine is co
