Wisdom versus knowledge for practicing internists

I have given my Learning How to Think like a Clinician several times recently. Each time physicians in the audience seem to particularly like one line that I use – Wisdom trumps Knowledge. In 2015, we all have rapid access to information. My team regularly uses smartphones, pads or computers to get precise information while on rounds. We cannot remember everything. More important than knowing is knowing what information we need. In our 2014 Annals of Internal Medicine editorial we called for a formative rather than summative process. A formative process describes a process in which the learner gets frequent feedback and hopefully grows in knowledge and their thought processes. The Anesthesiology Board has drastically changed their MOC process to fit this model – Anesthesiology Board Drops 10-Year-Exam for MOC. The MOCA Minute that will replace the test next year epitomizes continuous, as opposed to sporadic, learning. ABA diplomats must answer 30 multiple choice questions every 3 months. Regardless of the response, the MOCA Minute software will display the correct answer, the rationale for it, and links to pertinent educational material. Physicians can tackle the questions one at a time whenever they want, and wherever they are, as the ABA will release a MOCA Minute app for mobile devices. I hope that future ABIM adjustments will follow this concept. We should focus on improving physicians rather than merely testing them. A structured process that makes c...
Source: DB's Medical Rants - Category: Internal Medicine Authors: Tags: Medical Rants Source Type: blogs