MED5103 · Patient safety and preparation for practice

Overview

The aim of this unit is to enable graduates to practice safely and expertly as junior doctors. Evidence shows that approximately 5 % of hospitalised patients experience one significant and adverse event during their stay. Therefore, medical graduates require an in-depth understanding of Patient Safety: what are the hazards for patients; how and why errors occur; how can they be prevented and managed. This knowledge, coupled with a clear understanding of the roles and responsibilities of junior doctors within the healthcare system, provides a solid foundation for developing the knowledge, skills and attitudes required for safe patient care. You learn about Patient Safety, as well as how to be safer clinicians. There is a focus on the current major areas of challenge for the provision of safe care. For example: medication safety; effective teamwork and communication; and the assessment and management of the deteriorating patient. Teaching and learning activities include simulation, interactive lectures/seminars, readings and online activities.

Offerings

Assessment

The Handbook lists an examination for this unit.

Assessment in this unit includes hurdle assessment tasks. Failure of any hurdle assessment task may result in failure of the unit.

Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.

Requisites

The Handbook lists no prerequisite, corequisite or prohibition for this unit.

Learning outcomes

1. Identify the key concepts of patient safety.
2. Demonstrate an understanding of contemporary issues in the provision of safe patient care, such as correct patient identification; teamwork and communication; medication safety; accurate diagnosis; recognition and management of the acute deteriorating patient; equipment and procedural safety.
3. Apply patient safety learning to their observations and experiences in simulated or real workplace settings.
4. Review and refine their practice of patient safety based on feedback from teachers, peers and colleagues
5. Demonstrate safe prescribing practices for commonly used medications and fluids
6. Competently perform specified procedural, communication and teamwork skills
7. Recognise and effectively manage the deteriorating patient in simulated settings.
8. Communicate effectively in emergency health care teams, including clinical handover and referral.
9. Outline first-line management for medical emergencies that are commonly encountered by interns.

Workload

The workload for this unit is 288 hours comprised of 144 hours of learning activities including workshops, seminars, interactive lectures and prescribed pre-reading plus 144 hours of private study.

Student experience, not official rules. Nothing here changes what the Handbook says.