CLM-40142 - 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 2 module:
1. You will build on the foundations of the Year 1 general medical module with further scientific and clinical learning in the medical specialities of Psychiatry, Urology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Community based Medicine, Acute Medicine, Haematology and Infectious diseases. This will further develop your understanding of the matrix specification of Core Clinical Conditions for the Physician Associate (Department of Health).
2. You will be develop and practice your communication, clinical skills and professional practice in simulation to meet the Year 2 requirements of the Department of Health's Competency and Curriculum Framework for Physician Associates.
3. You will apply your skills and knowledge throughout the module in a 6 week GP placement block (2 x 3 weeks) and 16 weeks in Secondary Care. This will allow you to refine your clinical, communication and professional skills learnt in simulation.

This module will build on the knowledge and skills developed during year 1 to ensure the students are at the required level in terms of knowledge and skill to complete the programme and also sit the National qualifying examination for PAs.
This module will build of the general medical knowledge learnt during year 1 and bring in specialist areas of clinical practice to embed knowledge and skills further in a wider range of conditions and clinical scenarios to accommodate the whole life course and population background.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Apply to medical practice the scientific principles, method and knowledge relating to anatomy, biochemistry, cell biology, genetics, immunology, microbiology, molecular biology, nutrition, pathology, pharmacology and physiology: 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8
Demonstrate and critically reflect on their own clinical practice: 5,7,8
Perform a defined range of diagnostic procedures and measure and record the findings: 3,4,6,7
Perform a defined range of therapeutics procedures: 3,4,6,7
Demonstrate correct practice in a defined range of practical procedures: 3,4,6,7
Apply and critically analyse ethical and legal principles appropriately to physician associate practice: 1,2,5,7,8
Perform the role of the Physician Associate within the multidisciplinary team: 7,8

Study hours

Scheduled learning and teaching/active learning hours = 510 hours comprised of 60 hours of in situ clinical skills teaching and 450 hours of scheduled learning and teaching which includes approximately 200 hours in situ and 100 hours synchronous lectures, 60 hours in situ of small group taught sessions, 10 hours in situ of anatomy and 8o hours of clinical sciences teaching, split approximately 70 hours in situ and 10 hours synchronous.
482 hours independent study
780 hours placement
In Year 2, students will spend substantial clinical placements in secondary care and in general practice (block placements) and will also have the opportunity to participate in the Additional Clinical Experience block at the end of the year. A typical placement week will comprise five days in the clinical environment. Throughout Year 2 placement block, students will continue to refine and develop their clinical knowledge through clinical practice. During block placements there will be regular tutor catch ups with students.
Students are required to evidence a stipulated minimum number of placement hours through the completion of placement logs and to evidence their clinical skills in their Clinical Skills Passport.

School Rules

none

Description of Module Assessment