Departmental academic review

MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS since 2010

Curriculum Revision
The Faculty-led Clinical MBChB Curriculum Revision Task Team (CRTT) co-chaired by Prof Reid and Prof Burch met for their final meeting in October 2013 to review what has been achieved since the inception of the Task Team in August 2010, evaluate if the major objectives have been served and to bring clarity to the way forward with respect to salient issues that remain a work-in-progress and will be taken up by the MBChB Programme Committee.
A pilot project for longitudinal patient follow up, which arose out of the curriculum revision process, was administered in 2012. The aim was to identify potential obstacles, strengths and logistical implications of patient follow-up involving home visits by 4th year MBChB students. The project examined the impact of the home visit on the patient/family; the impact on the student's time and participation in the clinical rotation; the logistical implications from the co-ordinator's perspective; the safety and resource implications for student support; the feasibility of the longitudinal study across different clinical disciplines; and the optimal form of assessment amongst three methods (portfolio case report, forum posting and journal report) and the protocol was approved by the HREC.
Initial revisions to the 4^th year curriculum will take effect in 2014 including the introduction of primary care Paediatrics; incorporating additional on-site student clinical work; inclusion of alternative off-campus sites; home visits; and integrating PHC themes and learning outcomes across the curriculum. Revisions to the 6^th year curriculum will continue to be interrogated with the aim of exploring the implementation of a longitudinal 6^th year programme in George or other community-based off-campus sites on the expanded teaching platform, and exploring workable models.
Task Teams will continue to examine graduate attributes in relation to templates that were designed to identify and integrate PHC threads across the major themes of human rights; inter-professional teamwork; communications & cultural competence; evidence based practice; life-long learning; bio-psychosocial approach; ethics; gender & sexuality (LGBTI); SHAWCO Health Proposal; and oral health. The curriculum mapping process, which was half-way through, will also be completed.
The CPI curriculum moved through a review process that consolidated learning outcomes, and a spiral of teaching within MBChB regarding gender based violence was mapped, to initiate review.