REFOCUSING ON HISTORY-TAKING SKILLS DURING INTERNAL-MEDICINE TRAINING

Recognizing that skilled history-taking is in danger of becoming a los t art, the American Board of Internal Medicine calls attention to the urgent need for internal medicine residency programs to ensure that th ese skills are taught and assessed, Although the Board's certification examination contains standardized items that test the physician's abi lity to use information from a patient's medical history, the written examination cannot assess the physician's ability to elicit that histo ry. The Board believes that history-taking skills will become even mor e crucial as health care delivery changes, requiring more cost efficie ncy without sacrificing quality. By highlighting the skills of effecti ve history-taking and strategies for assessment, the Board offers spec ific recommendations for its promotion as a key element of quality pat ient care.