Wright State University School of Medicine
Sponsored Graduate Medical Education Programs
Resident Manual

Item 203
Residents - Goals and Responsibilities
Revised January 2002

The qualities of an effective physician include professional attitudes and interaction with peers, teachers, patients, and other members of the health care team. In addition to excellence in cognitive and performance aptitudes, residents are expected to develop and display impeccable professional attitudes and behaviors that meet the needs and expectations of the community and the medical profession.

Residents should view these responsibilities from three distinct but overlapping perspectives:

• as a physician for patient care,
• as a program trainee to the attending physicians and to the administrations of sponsoring hospitals and the School of Medicine, and
• as a physician to the community and to society in general.

As enumerated in the WSUSOM Graduate Medical Education Agreement, residents agree to:

• develop a personal program of self-study and professional growth.
• participate in safe, effective, and compassionate patient care under supervision, commensurate with his or her level of responsibility.
• participate fully in the educational activities of his or her program and, as required, assume responsibility for teaching and supervising other fellows, residents, and students.
• participate in institutional activities involving the hospital medical staff and adhere to established practices of the institutions.
• participate in institutional committees, especially those that relate to patient care review activities.
• apply cost containment measures in the provision of patient care.
• obtain a training certificate to practice medicine and a permanent license as required in the Resident and Fellow Manual.
• conform to all policies as set forth in the Resident and Fellow Manual.

Residents can be licensed by the state to practice medicine. Licensure assistance will be provided by the program director and the director of medical education of a resident's employing hospital (see Item 301 and Item 302). State licensure is mandatory if a resident assumes responsibility for patient care outside of the supervision of an accredited training program. Physician responsibility assumed in caring for patients is distinctly different from that assumed by a non-clinical graduate student.

Resident appointments are considered full-time commitments. The specific hours of duty for each program will be determined by the program director in collaboration with the teaching program's faculty. Any work outside of the program, such as "moonlighting," must have specific approval by the program director.

To advance to the next year of training, the resident must:

1. demonstrate the competence, efficiency, and maturity necessary to assume increasing responsibilities for teaching and supervising other residents, fellows, and students.
   
2. acquire appropriate cognitive medical knowledge.
   
3. competently obtain thorough medical histories, perform complete physical exams, develop rational differential diagnoses, and implement appropriate management plans for treatment of patients appropriate to his or her level of responsibility to advance to the next level of training.
   
4. assume appropriate responsibility for patient care.
   
5. demonstrate approved creativity in the advancement of patient care and medical knowledge appropriate to his or her level of responsibility to advance to the next level of training.

The School of Medicine expects that residents will be able to demonstrate the following at the conclusion of their educational program:

a. Patient care that is compassionate, appropriate, and effective for the treatment of health problems and the promotion of health

b. Medical knowledge about established and evolving biomedical, clinical, and cognate (e.g. epidemiological and social-behavioral) sciences and the application of this knowledge to patient care

c. Practice-based learning and improvement that involves investigation and evaluation of their own patient care, appraisal and assimilation of scientific evidence, and improvements in patient care

d. Interpersonal and communication skills that result in effective information exchange and teaming with patients, their families, and other health professionals

e. Professionalism, as manifested through a commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities, adherence to ethical principles, and sensitivity to a diverse patient population and

f. Systems-based practice, as manifested by actions that demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger context and system for health care and the ability to effectively call on system resources to provide care that is of optimal value.

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