Table 1 Core Competencies in Children’s Environmental Health
Core Competency Area | Core Competency Learning Objectives | Methods of Assessment |
|---|---|---|
1. Medical Knowledge | a. Explain how fetal and childhood epigenetics, physiology, organ maturation, and behaviors at different stages of development increase the impact of environmental exposures b. Identify potentially relevant EH resources for screening, diagnosis, risk communication, and treatment c. Describe prenatal, perinatal and pediatric conditions that are linked to environmental factors d. Describe prenatal, perinatal and pediatric exposures that may lead to disorders in birth outcomes, childhood, adolescence, and/or adulthood e. Describe aspects of the environment that nurture healthy growth and development in the fetus, child, adolescent, and young adult | Exam questions in pre-clinical years Case studies in problem-based learning Standardized patient encounters Oral questions on patient rounds or educational sessions Pre and post tests for Continuing Education activities Participation in EH sessions at academic conferences |
2. Patient Care | a. Apply environmental health screening questions as developmentally appropriate in preventive care b. Utilize additional necessary relevant questioning or assessment, if a potential hazard is identified c. Incorporate questions about potentially relevant environmental causes/factors in the assessment of the sick child d. Apply appropriate environmental and biological sampling and measurement both for screening and diagnostic testing e. Create and implement appropriate environmental health risk counseling and hazard reductions f. Demonstrate skills in providing environmental health anticipatory guidance | EH case studies in problem-based learning Standardized patient encounters with EH-related concerns EH content in morning report and other educational sessions Quality improvement projects, Maintenance of Certification activities focused on EH topics Pre and post tests for EH Continuing Education activities |
3. Systems-based Practice (Community Health) | a. Describe sentinel events and strategies for their public health reporting b. Identify partners and resources for addressing environmental health risks, and for counseling and management at the individual and community level. c. Demonstrate skills in EH risk communication d. Identify legal, regulatory, and non-regulatory approaches to addressing EH issues. | EH and public health elective participation for students and residents Scholarly project/research opportunities Participation in professional organization or institutional committee/working group addressing social or environmental determinants of health Refer patients to community-based resources |