Professionalism in Practice

Professionalism is at the core of medical practice and forms the basis of medicine's contract with society; it assumes physicians will place the interests of patients above their own, even when this is difficult. Physicians are expected to demonstrate their commitment to patients, society, and the profession through ethical practice which, in turn, is manifested through the values of honesty and trust, through clear communication and advocacy, and through striving for outcomes such as patient well-being and social justice.

This module will explore the concept of professionalism, how professionalism impacts both medical education and the modern practice of medicine in Newfoundland and Labrador, what behaviours are typically considered professional and which are perceived as unprofessional, and outline the regulatory and policy framework governing medicine and medical education.

After completing this online learning module, you will be able to:

• Define the concept of professionalism as it pertains to medical practice and medical education
• Summarize why professionalism is important in these contexts
• Recognize professional and unprofessional behaviours and attitudes
• Outline some of the factors which contribute to unprofessional behaviour
• Discuss the potential impacts of cultural and technological change on professional behaviour
• Identify the policies and procedures governing professional behaviour in medical practice and medical education
• Discuss how to respond to unprofessional behaviours and attitudes

This continuing professional development (CPD) program has been designed to integrate the CanMEDS Physician Competency Framework, including the roles of:

• Professional
• Communicator
• Leader