CLM-40140 - Module Specification
School of Medicine
Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

The PGDip/MSc Physician Associate Studies programme at Keele Medical School is an integrated programme that includes lectures, seminars, problem-based learning, skills, case simulation and placements.
In the Physician Associate Studies Year 1 module:
1. You will begin your foundations of clinical learning through Clinical Sciences, Anatomy and teaching in the general medical specialities of Respiratory, Gastroenterology, Cardiology Renal Medicine, Endocrinology, Neurology, Elderly care and Surgery. This will develop your understanding of the matrix specification of Core Clinical Conditions for the Physician Associate (Department of Health).
2. You will be introduced and practice your communication, clinical skills and professional practice in simulation to meet the year 1 requirements of the Department of Health's Competency and Curriculum Framework for Physician Associates.
3. You will apply your new skills and knowledge throughout the module in a longitudinal GP placement (approx. 1 day a week) and 12 week Secondary Care block. This will allow you to refine your clinical, communication and professional skills learnt in simulation.

This module will deliver the introductory knowledge requirements to satisfy the national MAP curriculum. It will provide students with the necessary foundation in general medicine preparing them to move onto specialty medicine in Year 2.
It will also provided the foundation in terms of clinical experience and skills to address the Department of Health and Competency and curriculum framework for Physician Associates (CCP) and prepare students for the RCP national qualifying examination.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Acquire and begin to apply to medical practice biomedical scientific principles, method and knowledge relating to anatomy, biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, immunology, microbiology, molecular biology, nutrition, pathology, pharmacology and physiology: 1,2,3,4,5,6
Demonstrate the ability to critically reflect on their own clinical practice: 1,4,5,6
Perform a defined range of diagnostic procedures and measure and record the findings: 1,3
Perform a defined range of therapeutics procedures: 1,3
Demonstrate correct practice in a defined range of practical procedures: 1,3
Demonstrate knowledge of ethical and legal principles for physician associate practice: 1,4,5,6
Recognise the role of the Physician Associate within the multidisciplinary team: 1,4,5,6

Study hours

Scheduled learning and teaching/active learning hours = 756 hours comprised of 60 hours in situ clinical skills teaching and 696 hours of scheduled learning and teaching which includes lectures of approximately 200 hours in situ and 26 hours synchronous , 60 hours of in situ small group taught sessions, 30 hours of in situ anatomy and 120 hours of clinical sciences teaching, of which approximately 100 hours are in situ and 20 synchronous. The 696 hours comprise of 24 hours per week x 29 weeks of study.
458 hours independent study
564 hours placement
Alongside communication, clinical skills and professional practice: lectures and seminars with a range of tutors
Students will also have approximately 2 hours asynchronous learning time in the week for peer directed learning (PDL) giving them time to discuss the content of the current theory block with their peers to further embed learning
Throughout year 1 placement block, students will continue to refine and develop their clinical knowledge through clinical practice.
In year 1, students will spend substantial clinical placements in secondary care and in general practice (longitudinal placement) and a typical placement week will consist of five days in the clinical environment (40 hours per week). There will be regular tutor catch ups during these placements.
Students are required to evidence that they have completed the minimum placement hours through the completion of placement logs.
They will also be required to develop their CCP skills through practical experience and mentorship from their supervising clinicians and to evidence this in their Clinical Procedural Skills Passport for Physician Associate.
Students will also need to dedicate significant time to their own private study (at least 14 hours per week) to cultivate their clinical knowledge and skills to the level required to be successful at the FPARCP National Exam. Students will sit this exam following the successful completion of Year 2.
Students will get the opportunity to sit a formative written exam in the Single Best Answer (SBA) and a formative Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) at the end of their first term.
This module will be assessed with one summative SBA, one summative OSCE and two reflective assignments. The Year 1 and Clinical Portfolio including Placement Log will also have to be submitted.

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment