Learning Together: Engaging Patients as Partners in CPD

The traditional continuing professional development (CPD) model often excludes the patient perspective, writes Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education President and CEO Graham T. McMahon, MD, MMSc. He explains that the clinicians who design such content mainly for other clinicians are often very protective of the professional-only CPD environment. "The absence of the patient perspective in CPD creates an inadvertent blind spot, hindering the opportunity for clinicians to hone patient-centric skills that are learned and practiced through training," McMahon notes. Moreover, patients' inclusion in CPD "can engage clinicians' hearts as well as minds and reinforce the reasons why our work matters." McMahon points out that patients are frequently more open to engaging in clinician education than clinicians may know, but educators must take the initial step by soliciting their participation and collaboration. McMahon proposes a plan for inviting patients as partners, including guidance for attaining support from leaders and faculty; recruiting, training, and cultivating patients; ascertaining roles and responsibilities; and establishing a safe space for patient participation.

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