title: Recommended integrative medicine competencies for family medicine residents.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and Integrative Medicine (IM) has grown steadily over the past decade. Patients seek physician guidance, yet physicians typically have limited knowledge and training. There is some coverage of IM/CAM topics in medical schools and residencies but with little coordination or consistency.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2008, the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM) group on Integrative Medicine began the process of designing a set of competencies to educate Family Medicine residents in core concepts of IM. The goal was creation of a set of nationally recognized competencies tied to the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) domains. These competencies were to be achievable by diverse programs, including those without significant internal resources. The group compiled existing curricula from programs around the country and distilled these competencies through multiple reviews and discussions. Simultaneously, the Integrative Medicine in Residency program run by the University of Arizona underwent a similar process. In 2009, these competencies were combined and further developed at the STFM annual meeting by a group of experts.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2010, the STFM Board approved 19 measurable competencies, each categorized by ACGME domain, as recommended for Family Medicine residencies. Programs have implemented these competencies in various ways given individual needs and resources.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This paper reviews the development of IM competencies for residency education in Family Medicine and presents those endorsed by STFM. By educating physicians in training about IM/CAM via competency-based curricula, we aim to promote comprehensive patient-centered care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI. Electronic address: alocke@umich.edu.
authors.forename: Amy B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Locke
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: Mary P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Guerrera
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gardiner
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lebensohn
mesh_terms: D000068:Accreditation; D002983:Clinical Competence; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000193:education*; D003479:Curriculum; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D005194:Family Practice / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D055048:Integrative Medicine / Q000193:education*; D007396:Internship and Residency; D012955:Societies, Medical; D014495:Universities
keywords: ACGME competencies; graduate medical education; integrative medicine