The vital role of professionalism in physical medicine and rehabilitation

Professionalism in medicine is universally embraced, and it is the foundation for core competencies in medical education, clinical practice, and research. Physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians must master a complex body of knowledge and use this to responsibly care for patients. Rehabilitation professionals work in various settings; however, each one must establish and maintain ethical standards consistent with the specialty and national standards. For example, the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education lists professionalism as one of its six core competencies, which trainees must master. There is a growing interest in professionalism and some of the ethical issues that it encompasses. This report provides a general overview of professionalism. Future reports are needed, and there is an opportunity to consider many facets of professionalism in greater detail.