Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

1. Demonstrate effective communication skills that are patient-centred; demonstrate the ability to develop an effective professional relationship with patients, families and carers, including appropriate communication, and integrate strategies to adapt communication in recognition of the impact of language, culture, abilities, age, gender and/or health status; discuss culturally safe practice. 
2. Plan and elicit an accurate and concise medical history; plan and conduct a comprehensive physical examination, including the appropriate procedural skills; plan, conduct and interpret medical investigations; interpret and synthesise information obtained from a history, examination and investigations to generate and justify a list of differential diagnoses
3. Integrate the medical sciences and population health to explain optimal health and common diseases including the range of factors affecting health and disease; discuss the prevention, diagnosis and management of disease. 
4. Discuss the structure and functions of health care systems; integrate the psychological, social, economic, environmental and cultural issues that affect the health of individuals and populations. 
5. Discuss the historic and contemporary factors impacting Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples health and wellbeing, including diseases ; discuss Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples culture and history, and their impact on wholistic health and Social and Emotional wellbeing. 
6. Discuss the core principles of ethics, law and professionalism that underpin social institutions and professional and clinical decision making; discuss professional leadership, followership and teamwork in health care and within interprofessional healthcare teams. 
7. Critically analyse, interpret and apply evidence to research and answer specific clinical issues. 
8. Discuss the key elements of fitness to practice medicine through acquiring a commitment to professional behaviours including respect, teamwork, patient safety, ethics, quality and regulatory obligation; demonstrate an ability to reflect upon feedback on your own performance to generate strategies that optimise individual and team performance; demonstrate effective engagement in learning activities and teamwork with peers. 

Work Integrated Learning

Placements

All students engage with WIL partners (internal/external) as a minor component of the course

Other Information

Academic progress required for medical programs (Academic Progress Rule 2019 )

(1) If a medical student fails 1 or more courses in the student’s medical program in any year of enrolment in the program, the student is considered to have failed to maintain a satisfactory standard of academic progress in the student’s medical program, and is regarded as on probation for the remainder of the program. 

(4) If a medical student to whom subsection (1) applies fails, for a second or subsequent time, any course in the student’s medical program in any year of enrolment in the program, the Delegated Authority may exclude the student from medical programs for a specified period of no longer than 5 years. 

(8) If a medical student fails a second or later year ANU Medical School [since 2023 School of Medicine and Psychology] professional practice course, the student is considered to have failed to maintain a satisfactory standard of academic progress in the student’s medical program and the Delegated Authority may exclude the student from medical programs for a specified period of no longer than 5 years.

Inherent Requirement Descriptors continued:

Insight into their own health and behaviour

• Medical students will be expected to demonstrate an ability to recognise when they experience poor health and put in place effective processes to ensure their own health or behaviours do not pose a risk to others.

Cognition, critical thinking and problem solving skills

• Medical students will be expected to have an aptitude for problem solving, based on scientific principles to understand and solve the complex medical needs of patients, whilst also considering the context of the patient’s circumstances and the health system they are working in.

Team work

• Medical students will be expected to work willingly and cohesively as part of a team, taking responsibility for their actions as well as recognising and respecting the skills of other professionals.

Physical and observational capabilities

• Medical students will be expected to demonstrate their ability to acquire information, carry out a range of procedures suitable to their level of capability, and understand and carry out their role in assisting during a medical emergency.

Sustainable performance

• Medical students will be expected to demonstrate both physical and mental performance at a consistent and sustained level to perform multiple tasks in an assigned period of time that provides safe and effective care without compromise.

Indicative Assessment

1. Assessment for this course requires students to meet the passing standard in each of the three hurdles: (100) [LO 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8]
2. Foundations for Medical Practice Hurdle (null) [LO 2,3,4,5,6,7]
3. Clinical Practice Hurdle (null) [LO 1,2,3,5]
4. Professionalism and Engagement Hurdle (null) [LO 1,2,6,8]

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Workload

This course must be enrolled in twice over two consecutive semesters (21 units +21 units)

Students are expected to devote a minimum of 40 hours per week to scheduled course activities and independent study. Scheduled activities, some of which have minimum compulsory attendance requirements, comprise 20-22 hours per week.

Inherent Requirements

Students develop a range of skills and knowledge over the course of the medical program to build the foundation for medical practice. A wide range of capabilities and attributes are required of doctors; some of which are inherent in the person, and some developed and learnt during medical training and lifelong learning as a medical practitioner. Inherent requirements for the ANU Doctor of Medicine and Surgery are guided by the Medical Deans of Australia and New Zealand Inclusive Medical Education guidance note:

 

Communication skills – verbal, non-verbal and written

• Medical students will be expected to communicate effectively and sensitively with a range of different people to establish rapport, involve patients and carers in decision making, and practise in a culturally safe way to deliver high quality, safe care. This applies to listening, speaking, reading, writing, and the capability to use these different modes to elicit information from people, often under pressure and in difficult situations.

Professionalism

• Medical students will be expected to demonstrate capabilities consistent with those of a medical professional, including a commitment to making the care of patients their priority, and to practise safely and effectively, treat people with dignity and respect, and be aware of the limits of their own knowledge, skills and health. They will also be required to comply with the law, regulations and any other university codes or policies.

Insight into their own health and behaviour

Cognition, critical thinking and problem solving skills

Team work

Physical and observational capabilities

Sustainable performance

(See the Other Information for the full descriptors of the final five areas).

It should be recognised that there may be cases where students will not be able to meet the requirements of the program, even with reasonable adjustments. Steps should then be taken by university staff to provide guidance on other study options available.

Requisite and Incompatibility

Prescribed Texts

Please refer to the Learning Management System (LMS)

Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links