The required standard of competence
The required standard of competence as defined in section 5 of the HPCAA means the standard of competence reasonably to be expected of a health practitioner practising within that health practitioner’s scope of practice.
Practise
Practise in section 5 of the HPCAA means to perform services that fall within the description of a health profession.
Competence
The Council defines the standard of competence expected of a doctor as the knowledge, skills, attitudes and judgement to practise within his or her scope to a standard acceptable to reasonable peers and to the community.
Performance
The Council defines performance as practising to a standard acceptable to reasonable peers and to the community. This includes making safe judgements, demonstrating the level of skill and knowledge required for safe practice, behaving appropriately and acting in a way that does not impact adversely on patient safety within all domains of medical practice.
Domains of medical practice
The Council requires doctors to maintain continuing professional development (CPD) and to maintain competence to perform to an acceptable standard within all the domains of medical practice; these include:
Clinical expertise
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diagnostic and management skills (skills that may be specific to each branch of practice, but may be generic to several - such as prescribing, surgical skills, psychotherapy, and expert adviser skills)
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Communication
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with patients and families, with colleagues, medical record keeping
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Collaboration
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teamwork
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Management
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personal management (including insight and recognising limits),management within systems, use of time and resources
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Scholarship
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lifelong learning, teaching, research, critical appraisal
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Professionalism
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honesty, integrity, probity, respect for patients (including cultural competence with respect to gender, race, boundaries, and New Zealand’s biculturalism), respect for colleagues, moral reasoning and ethical practice and advocacy for patients commitment to continuous improvement in the health care system collaboration with other healthcare stakeholders
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Approved by Council August 2004
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