RWJMS School-Wide Objective and Measurement

IV. Interpersonal and Communication Skills: Students must be able to demonstrate interpersonal & communication skills, both verbal and written, that result in effective information exchange with patients, patients’ families, peers, and other health professions colleagues.

m/e = measurements and evaluations

By graduation students will be able to:

A. Create and sustain a therapeutic and ethically sound relationship with patients in order to effectively communicate their health care needs, including situations involving sensitive, technically complex, or distressing information.

1. PRECLERKSHIP

a. Students will communicate respectfully with diverse patients.

b. Students will discuss and apply principles of medical ethics to patient cases.

c. Students will demonstrate appropriate behavior when interacting with patients and other health professionals providing care.

m/e Faculty observations and feedback; professional citations

2. CLERKSHIP/ADVANCED

a. Students will demonstrate ethically appropriate interactions with patients.

b. Students will effectively establish a therapeutic relationship with all patients and their families.

c. Students will adapt their communication style to the individual needs of the patient and the urgencies of the situation.

m/e Faculty observations and feedback; clerkship evaluations; professionalism citations

B. Utilize appropriate and effective communication strategies, including nonverbal, explanatory, questioning and writing skills, to both elicit and provide health care information to patients and their families.

1. PRECLERKSHIP

a. Students will use techniques which foster effective communication including active listening, clarification of patient responses, encouragement of sharing concerns and questions.

b. Students will deliver information to patients with appropriate communication strategies including use of the explanatory model, assessing the patient’s understanding with direct questioning, and with written instructions.

m/e Faculty observations and feedback; OSCE’s

2. CLERKSHIP/ADVANCED

a. Students will use techniques which foster effective

communication including active listening, clarification of patient responses, encouragement of sharing concerns and questions.

b. Students will deliver information to patients with appropriate communication strategies including use of the explanatory model, assessing the patient’s understanding with direct questioning, and with written instructions.

c. Students will conduct a culturally-competent encounter, including use of an interpreter when necessary.

d. Students will create and maintain appropriate records of clinical encounters using standard terminology and formats, including written patient history and physicals, in-patient and out-patient encounter notes and case log information.

m/e Faculty observations and feedback; clerkship evaluations; OSCEs; USMLE Step 2 CS

C. Work effectively with others as members of a health care team, including peers, residents, faculty and other health care professionals.

1. PRECLERKSHIP

a. Students will participate effectively in small groups.

b. Students will identify and discuss working relationships between health care professionals.

c. Students will demonstrate team behavior in academic and clinical settings.

m/e Faculty observations and feedback; OSCEs

2. CLERKSHIP/ADVANCED

a. Students will participate effectively in small groups; students will participate effectively in clerkship clinical activities with attendings, residents, and other health professionals

b. Students will provide concise, accurate, verbal summaries of patient situations to a faculty member, resident or peer, prioritizing the most significant factors for clinical decision-making.

c. Students will identify their responsibilities as members of a health care team

d. Students will establish effective communication among members of the health care team, including appropriate written and other communications.

m/e Faculty observations and Feedback; Clerkship Evaluations; OSCEs; USMLE Step 2CS