The practice of medicine today faces unprecedented challenges stemming from profound societal changes: the digitization of information, the development of new expertise in healthcare, an aging population, an ever-increasing demand for care, hyper-specialization, the proliferation of knowledge, and an exponentially growing number of scientific publications…

In his book *The Medical Profession*, sociologist Elliot Freidson explores the concept of professionalism, particularly in the medical field.

Until now, healthcare practice has essentially relied on the acquisition of knowledge, expertise, and skills specific to each profession. However, while these elements are essential, they are not always sufficient to demonstrate "professional practice." In healthcare, interpersonal skills, moral values, and ethical values are integral to the definition of professional practice. To develop professional practice in healthcare, it is essential to define what professionalism truly is. The "good" healthcare professional: Professionalism refers to professional practice, which combines the specific knowledge of each profession with the expected behavior of the professionals involved toward society as a whole. A “professional” can be defined as follows: A person who belongs to a group (a profession) and who possesses the knowledge, skills, and attitudes acquired through training, which are specific to their profession and which are used to serve other members of society. In healthcare, professionalism encompasses both the technical and scientific dimensions of care, as well as the moral, ethical, and relational aspects. According to the University of Montreal, as a professional, the physician (and healthcare provider more generally) is committed to promoting the well-being of patients and communities while respecting individuals, standards of practice, and the norms governing their profession, in the sense of collaborative practice. Accountable for his actions, he assumes responsibility for his conduct and professional activities.

To reflect on the qualities that define a “good” healthcare professional, it is helpful to put yourself in the patient’s shoes and ask the following question: “What qualities foster a sense of trust when I consult a healthcare professional?”

In this reflection, Professor Thierry Pelaccia identified five attributes that characterize a healthcare provider who demonstrates professionalism:

• The development and maintenance of skills throughout one's career through continuing professional development
• Interpersonal skills
• Collaborative practice skills
• Professional integrity and ethics
• Partnership with the patient

Professionalism therefore refers to the attitudes and values upon which clinical practice is based during the encounter between the patient and the healthcare provider. For clinical practice that adheres to the codes of professionalism, it is essential to ground it in non-judgmental observation, attentive listening, an examination that encompasses physical, cognitive, and emotional aspects, and a reasoning and decision-making process focused on the patient, rather than solely on the disease. More specifically, the attributes of professionalism rest on a set of elements that are inseparable from one another. In a medical context, these attributes refer to the values and attitudes upon which clinical practice is based during the encounter between the caregiver and the patient.‍SafeTeam Academy and Professionalism

To train healthcare teams and support their professional development, it is necessary to provide them with training in non-technical skills through an approach that emphasizes human factors.

The SafeTeam Academy, through its immersive video training, helps develop non-technical skills such as teamwork, workload management, communication, situational awareness, and self-awareness (stress and fatigue management). This investment, which is essential for our patients, also addresses a need among healthcare providers, who are constantly striving to improve the quality of the care they provide.

Reflectiveness is also one of the key elements in developing professionalism. This reflective practice is fostered through situations that encourage healthcare professionals to question their actions. Perceived authenticity is essential to enabling this reflective practice and its application to real-life situations. The SafeTeam Academy’s immersive video experiences offer a very high level of perceived authenticity, which is why our training programs promote the analysis of practices, the acquisition of new skills, and the transfer of knowledge into practice… ultimately leading to improved quality and safety of care. If you too would like to help make healthcare more reliable, come discover SafeTeam Academy’s training programs! To learn more about our training programs, please contact us at: contact@safeteam.academy. We would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the work of Professor Thierry Pelaccia and thank him for his participation on SafeTeam Academy’s scientific advisory board.