Programme And Module Handbook
 
Programme Specification


Date Specification Approved 28/09/2005
College College Medicine and Den Sci
School Institute of Clinical Sciences
Department Birmingham Medical School
Partner College and School
Collaborative Organisation and Form of Collaboration
Qualification and Programme Title M.B.Ch.B. (graduate entry) Clinical Full-time
Programme Code 5479
Delivery Location Campus
Language of Study English
Length of Programme 4 Year(s)
Accreditations This programme has no outside accreditations
Aims of the Programme The course aims to produce graduates who have the knowledge, skills and professional behaviours to function as junior doctors and the personal and intellectual attributes necessary for life-long professional development. Such graduates will be safe practitioners:

1) Prepared to work in a wide variety of clinical settings as a member of a multi-professional team
2) Aware of and equipped to counter health inequalities through their practice
3) Equal to the challenges of working in a multicultural environment with patients from diverse social backgrounds
4) Aware of the limits of their competence and determined to act within those limits
5) Adept in the use of C&IT (Communication and Information Technology) skills for health care
6) Capable and motivated lifelong learners continually engaged in active professional development
7) Able to acquire and analyse information from published research and databases and able to contribute to medical knowledge through research
8) Understanding of the need to maintain and promote health, as well as to cure or palliate disease and aware of their obligations to the wider community as well as to individuals
9) Expert communicators who are empathic in a manner appropriate to a caring profession
10) Trained to integrate learning from across the range of disciplines which support medical practice with learning from clinical experience.
Programme Outcomes
Students are expected to have Knowledge and Understanding of: Which will be gained through the following Teaching and Learning methods: and assessed using the following methods:
the principles underpinning effective learning and teaching and the role of information technology.
the principles underpinning effective communication and doctor / patient relationships
the scientific disciplines fundamental to the study of medicine and clinical practice.
the causes and mechanisms of disease.
the principles of therapeutic interventions.
the presentation of an agreed range of clinical problems and the investigative, preventative, and therapeutic actions available for dealing with them.
the ethical and legal issues relating to the practice of medicine.
how the best standards of patient care rely on the optimal organisation and management of healthcare provision.
In year 1 of the Graduate Entry course the main strategies are lectures and interactive small group teaching supported by complementary lectures.

GP based learning involves students in all aspects of practice based education, including reflection.

Hospital based learning forms the bulk of years 2 & 3 and 4 involving tutorials seminars and bed-side teaching. This is supplemented by continuing programmes of lectures.

Independent, self-directed learning is expected as an integral part of both theoretical and practice-based learning.
Assessed by a range of types of objective tests and by short answer.

Submitted course work, including written/verbal/poster presentation of individual and group project work.

Quality of involvement in small group working / seminars.

Structured clinical examinations.
Students are expected to have attained the following Skills and other Attributes: Which will be gained through the following Teaching and Learning methods: and assessed using the following methods:
Demonstrate the educational skills and attitudes required by the medical practitioner in their roles as learner and teacher
Demonstrate skill in the use of computer and information technology that will support clinical practice and continuing education.
Demonstrate a commitment to the advancement of knowledge in medicine and a level of understanding and skill in research processes that enables analysis and critical interpretation of published research and the design and implementation of small scale research projects.
Demonstrate the attitudes and interpersonal / communication skills required by the medical practitioner in order to maximise the effectiveness of doctor-patient relationships and of professional and inter-professional team working.
Demonstrate an awareness of threats to the health of the doctor presented by clinical practice and effective strategies for risk reduction.
Demonstrate proficiency and sensitivity in working with patients and relatives to elicit and record an accurate patient history and in undertaking an appropriate physical and/or mental assessment.
Demonstrate critical thinking in interpreting the evidence to reach a diagnosis and in determining and explaining the options for investigation and management
Demonstrate competence in an agreed range of technical and practical procedures relevant to clinical practice.
Demonstrate a commitment to the role of a doctor in preventative medicine and health promotion for both individuals and populations.
Demonstrate awareness of the current limits of their professional competence and a commitment to working within these.
The educational processes, particularly case-based group work will reinforce learning/research/IT skills. Communication/interpersonal skills taught through role play and developed through experiential learning in the clinical area. Practice-based learning is an important element throughout the course, involving bed-side teaching and supervised practice/feedback to students and facilitated reflection. Specific clinical procedures are taught in the practice setting and in a range of clinical skills laboratories.
Quality of involvement in small group working/seminars. Written/verbal/poster presentation of individual and group project work. Structured clinical examinations. Continuous assessment of professional behaviour/patterns of practice in the clinical area. Competence based assessment of agreed range of clinical procedures in the practice setting or the clinical skills laboratory.