UWA Handbook 2025

Unit Overview

Description

The Doctor of Medicine course is based around six themes of professional, leader, advocate, clinician, educator and scholar. This unit provides teaching in all of these themes within the hospital-based clinical attachments in Year 2 of the course. Students undertake clinical placements in surgery, psychiatry, internal medicine and geriatrics/rheumatology. A longitudinal attachment in general practice occurs in parallel with the clinical rotations. Students undertake clinical care of patients under the supervision of experienced clinicians in a real clinical environment including ward rounds, operating theatre experience, outpatient clinics, community practices and other clinical encounters. Students engage in small group learning sessions to discuss evidence-based practice in related clinical disciplines in hospital and community health contexts. Students are expected to apply the knowledge, skills and professional attitudes gained in context within these clinical rotations.

Credit

24 points

Offering
(see Timetable)

Availability	Location	Mode
Non-standard teaching period	UWA (Perth)	Face to face

Outcomes

Students are able to (1) display professional behaviour in the educational and clinical settings, outline some challenges to professionalism, and reflect on own and others' professional behaviours; demonstrate objective self-? reflection and insight to recognise effects of own personal values, well-?being and difficulties on professional performance and access support services when necessary; and comply with medicolegal responsibilities and recognise and discuss common ethical and legal issues in medical practice; (2) outline the requirements of team leadership, followership and the shared leadership model of care; and display team skills; respect, value and utilise the expertise, opinions and skills of other health professionals and participate in interprofessional teams; outline the requirements of team leadership, followership and the shared leadership model of care; and explain the roles and functioning of hospital and community health care settings and staff; and outline career pathways in medicine; (3) outline the role of the doctor and priority issues in supporting and advocating for individual patients, the local community and society; display the ability to obtain and record a culturally secure, accurate and comprehensive history, physical examination and diagnostic plan with Aboriginal patients; and discuss some Aboriginal health issues; and display a culturally secure clinical approach and explain contributing factors and consequences of health inequalities; and outline health maintenance, promotion and disease prevention strategies with patients and colleagues; (4) discuss the classification, epidemiology, aetiology, anatomy, pathophysiology, clinical and pathological manifestations, natural history, diagnostic principles and therapeutic principles for specified core body systems and medical conditions; perform an accurate, systematic and timely clinical assessment for the specified core presentations and derive a relevant differential diagnosis or problem list; and select or perform and interpret specified investigations under direct supervision; outline the management principles for the specified core medical conditions; and perform specified procedural skills under direct supervision; assess and respect the patient's values, preferences, context, and perspectives, and explain the effects of these on shared decision-?making, diagnosis and management; display professional, concise and accurate oral, written and electronic clinical communication skills with colleagues and respectful, courteous and effective communication with patients/carers/families; and explain elements of the quality care and clinical audit processes in hospital and community settings and their role in improving health outcomes; (5) explain and apply principles of life-long learning, identify personal learning needs, implement and evaluate a personal learning plan and effectively use appropriate educational resources; apply effective approaches to mentoring relationships from the mentee perspective and discuss the importance and effects of role-modeling; assess patient understanding of their health and health problems and effectively respond to questions from patients/carers/families; demonstrate skills to facilitate teaching and learning in one to one, small and large group sessions, including clinical teaching with patients; and display effective self-?assessment skills, seek and effectively respond to constructive feedback, and provide constructive feedback to others; and (6) apply knowledge of research and biostatistical methods to inform clinical learning; apply evidence-based-practice strategies and tools to specified core medical conditions and presentations; and use clinical information and support systems and resources in a relevant, effective and professional manner.

Assessment

Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) in-training assessment during clinical attachments; (2) end of year written examinations; (3) professional behaviour and participation assessment; and (4) MD portfolio. Further information is available in the unit outline.

To pass this unit, a student must: (a) achieve an overall mark of 50 per cent or higher for the unit; and (b) achieve the requisite requirements(s) or a mark of 50 per cent or greater, whichever is higher and specified in the unit outline, for the in-training assessment during clinical attachments, end of year written examinations, professional behaviour and participation assessment, and MD portfolio components.

Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.

Unit Coordinator(s)

Associate Professor Christopher Etherton-Beer

Unit rules

Prerequisites

Enrolment in

91850 Doctor of Medicine

and Successful completion of

IMED4113 Integrated Medical Systems 3

Approved quota: 240—domestic (210) and international (30)

Contact hours

There will be four, 6-week clinical rotations in IMED4222. Approx contact hours of 30-40 hours per week.