What are the “competencies”? Are they all going to be assessed in USMLE? How?

In accordance with direction from the USMLE Composite Committee and the Committee to Evaluate the USMLE Program, USMLE governance will consider changes to the examination sequence in the context of competencies that have become increasingly prevalent in recent years as a means of organizing medical education and assessment. One of the most commonly used competency frameworks was developed collaboratively by the ACGME and the ABMS. This framework identifies six competencies: medical knowledge, patient care, communication and interpersonal skills, professionalism, practice-based learning and improvement, and systems-based practice. Some in the medical education and practice community have also identified a seventh competency related to surgical and other technical procedural skills.

The NBME will explore how best to assess examinees in all competency areas. It is likely that the assessments available via a revised USMLE will not be able to measure all competencies to an equal degree. It is possible that one or more competencies will not be measurable in a valid manner in the context of the USMLE. During implementation of changes to the USMLE, staff will identify how best to assess examinees’ performance in each of the competencies using available methods, develop a research agenda to expand assessment tools for competencies not adequately measured presently, and identify competencies that cannot be reliably measured in USMLE so that assessments in other contexts (e.g., residency training programs) can supplement the information provided by the USMLE.

Source:http://www.usmleworldwide.com/blog/?p=147