Inclusion of systems-based practice in medical education: Is it a necessity?

Abstract

Abstract: Systems-based practice (SBP) is a core competency that concentrates on the foundation of health care in good medical practice. It is to be aware of the systems in which we work and to make sure to achieve the maximum outcome response in our work by remaining in the system. Compared to medical schools, fellowship programs are active in developing and evaluating SBP curricula. The Graduate Medical Education Regulation-2019 describes competency-based learning which includes designing and implementing a medical education curriculum that focuses on the desired and observable ability in real-life situations. For achieving good patient care, good medical practice is a requirement. For attaining optimal medical practice, it is important to understand how one functions within the system as a whole and how one’s actions affect all other aspects of the system. The graduating residents immediately start participating in the health-care system as a whole. Therefore, residents must be aware of the health-care systems in which they have to operate and also have the ability to provide high-quality, cost-effective medical care to the patients with the available resources. These residents should have enough exposure to SBP to efficiently work in a team. Competency-based medical education should include SBP as a competency where doctors would understand what is happening to the health-care system in which they practice, why the system is changing so rapidly, and what they can do about it.