ABSTRACT
Increasing attention is being directed to the competency of those who deliver healthcare in the United States. In behavioral health, there is growing recognition of the need to define, teach, and assess essential competencies. Since attention to this issue in behavioral health is relatively recent, there is much to be gained by learning from the principles, definitions, and conceptual models of competency that have been developed in other fields. This article outlines the forces that drive the current focus on competency of the healthcare workforce. Relevant history, principles, definitions, and models that have evolved through research and application in business and industry are reviewed. From this analysis, recommendations are offered to guide future work on competencies in behavioral health.
Subject(s)
Behavioral Medicine/education , Clinical Competence , Mental Health Services/standards , Staff Development , Behavioral Medicine/standards , Humans , Models, Educational , Organizational Innovation , Patient Participation , Physician-Patient Relations , United States , WorkforceABSTRACT
There is an emerging trend within healthcare to introduce competency-based approaches in the training, assessment, and development of the workforce. The trend is evident in various disciplines and specialty areas within the field of behavioral health. This article is designed to inform those efforts by presenting a step-by-step process for developing a competency model. An introductory overview of competencies, competency models, and the legal implications of competency development is followed by a description of the seven steps involved in creating a competency model for a specific function, role, or position. This modeling process is drawn from advanced work on competencies in business and industry.
