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2022/23 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

MEDS5121M Foundation of Clinical Practice 2 for Physician Associates

30 creditsClass Size: 30

Module manager: Mrs Michelle Ellwood
Email: m.l.ellwood@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semesters 1 & 2 (Sep to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2022/23

Pre-requisites

MEDS5100MClassroom to Clinic 1 for Physician Associates
MEDS5101MFoundation of Clinical Practice 1 for Physician Associates

Co-requisites

MEDS5120MClassroom to Clinic 2 for Physician Associates

Module replaces

N/A

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

PAs must demonstrate the attitudes, skills and knowledge to deliver holistic care and treatment within the general medical and/or the general practice team under defined levels of clinical supervision.This module continues the spiralled learning from the first year of study, and is required to support the clinical placements described in the Competency and Curriculum Framework for Physician Associates (see Classroom to Clinic 2 proposal).Second year students will be expected to build upon knowledge from Year 1 that is of relevance to a Physician Associate and which underpins the scientific and evidence base for clinical practice. It will equip students with the knowledge and skills to develop a research, service evaluation or practice development proposal for investigating a clinical problem in an area relevant to their own clinical practice.

Objectives

In the medical context a newly qualified PA must be able to perform their clinical work at the same standard as a newly qualified doctor.

Successful completion of this module and placement hours will enable students to work safely within policy guidelines in the NHS, demonstrating critical understanding of the values and needs of the service including efficiency and effectiveness. Students will be able to interpret evidence, develop their clinical judgement in diagnosis and management, demonstrating knowledge of therapeutics and prescribing within a defined framework for Physician Associates.

This module will provide an opportunity for students to develop an understanding of research, service evaluation or practice development methodologies that underpin evidence based practice and explore how quantitative and qualitative data can be collected and analysed.

Learning outcomes
By the end of this module students will be able to transfer knowledge skills and attitudes to the application of health and disease management appropriate to a Physician Associate

Interpreting evidence/determining the requirement for additional evidence
- Interpret the findings from the consultation (history, physical examination and mental state examination) in order to determine the need for further investigation and, with the patient/carer, the appropriate direction of patient management
- Understand the indication for initial and follow-up investigations
- Select, interpret and act upon appropriate investigations
- Determine the relevance of screening tests for a given condition.

Clinical judgement in diagnosis and management
- Formulate a differential diagnosis based on objective and subjective data
- Make use of clinical judgement to select the most likely diagnosis in relation to all information obtained
- Recognise when information/data is incomplete and work safely within these limitations
- Recognise key diagnostic errors and the issues relating to diagnosis in the face of incomplete data.
- Recognise when a clinical situation is beyond their competence and seek appropriate support.

Therapeutics and prescribing
- Working under medical delegation clauses, determine and propose appropriate therapeutic interventions from the full range of available prescription medications used in the clinical setting
- Write accurate and legible prescriptions in out-patient, in-patient and primary care setting for review and signature by a supervising clinician.
- On commencing intravenous infusion, write accurate and legible prescriptions for appropriate fluid regimes for review and signature by a supervising clinician
- Use the British National Formulary (BNF) and local formularies appropriately and be familiar with the yellow card system for reporting side effects/drug interactions
- Recognise their responsibility for facilitating patient concordance for the drug regime being proposed by them and prescribed by their supervising clinician.

Risk management
- Recognise potential clinical risk situations and take appropriate action
- Recognise risks to themselves, the team, patients and others and takes appropriate action to eliminate/minimise danger
- Value the importance of clinical governance and participate as directed.


Maintenance of good practice
- Critically evaluate own practice to identify learning/developmental needs and identify and utilise learning opportunities
- Use evidence, guidelines and audit (including significant event analysis) to benefit patient care and improve professional practice
- Critically analyse and debate the requirements needed to undertake a quantitative or qualitative investigation of clinical practice
- Select, design, construct and apply a range of research tools to formulate a research proposal in an area of chosen clinical practice

Awareness of guiding principles and current developments in the NHS
- Practice in a manner which is grounded in the underlying principles of the NHS as a patient centred service, free at the point of delivery
- Maintain an awareness of national and local guidelines / legal requirements, both generally and, in particular, as relevant to their area of practice
- Maintain an awareness of any new developments in the structure and function of the NHS and particularly in relation to their area of practice
- Demonstrate an understanding of change processes within the NHS and fulfil their broader professional role by participating in national and local consultation processes

Public health
Address issues and demonstrate techniques involved in studying the effect of diseases on communities and individuals including:
- Assessment of community needs in relation to how services are provided
- Recognition of genetic, environmental and social causes of, and influences on the prevention of illness and disease

Application of the principles of promoting health and preventing disease.

Skills outcomes
Applied scientific knowledge utilising knowledge of anatomy and physiology
Clinical judgement
Critical appraisal of scientific evidence
Critical awareness of the NHS ethical and legal context applied to practise as a physician associate
Research skills applied to a clinical problem


Syllabus

The above principles will be taught over 3 terms and will include technology enhanced and e-learning, and self-directed learning in the following areas on campus and on clinical placement through a body systems and specialty approach:
Cardiovascular
Respiratory
Gastrointestinal
Ear Nose and Throat
Ophthalmology
Neurology
Female, Male and Sexual Health
Renal and GU
Endocrine
Haematology
Oncology
Musculoskeletal
Care of the Elderly
Mental Health
Paediatrics
Infectious Disease
Dermatology

Teaching methods

Delivery typeNumberLength hoursStudent hours
On-line Learning14.004.00
Workshop52.0010.00
Workshop53.0015.00
Class tests, exams and assessment416.0016.00
Group learning72.0014.00
Lecture102.0020.00
Practical123.0036.00
Tutorial102.0020.00
Independent online learning hours56.00
Private study hours165.00
Total Contact hours135.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)356.00

Private study

The placement provision and hours are dictated by the requirements of the Competence and Curriculum Framework for Physician Associates.

Opportunity for self-directed study and independent learning is facilitated through use of mobile technology, Technology enhanced learning (lecture capture) access to the Virtual Learning Environment and the Virtual Community. This will take place on negotiated study days (1 per 3 week rotation), built into a three week module block at the beginning of year 2, a revision week in Year 2 term 1 and 5 revision days pre-Easter in Year 2 term 2

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Progress will be monitored through the acquisition of skills documented in the e portfolio, the completion of workplace-based assessments and a satisfactory attendance record since the student must complete a specified number of hours in practice in order to meet the requirements of the United Kingdom and Ireland Universities Board for Physician Associate Education (UKIUBPAE).

In addition to the feedback points above students will be assigned to an educational supervisor who will deliver verbal feedback on their progress each term. Once a term students will also meet their campus based personal Tutor drawn from the core team supporting the programme

Methods of assessment


Coursework
Assessment typeNotes% of formal assessment
Report3000 word project report40.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)40.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated


Exams
Exam typeExam duration% of formal assessment
Standard exam (closed essays, MCQs etc) 2 hr 30 mins60.00
Total percentage (Assessment Exams)60.00

A formative closed book online time limited assessment of 40 minutes will be given weeks before the summative one.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 29/11/2022

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