Core Clerkship Elements
A core clerkship is a required one to two-month academic period of instruction based in clinical experience in which the medical student learns and participates in patient care broadly, but is generally focused on a single medical discipline. The experience grows out of a set of knowledge, skills, and attitudes based on the Twelve Competencies Expected of the UVA Physician.
Elements Expected of All Clerkships
- Orientation
- Direct participation in and observation of patient care with resident/fellow/attending [including discussion of evaluation, differential diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up]. (daily)
- Daily medical student presentation of patient history & physical examination (or follow-up) to supervising resident/fellow/attending
- Patient-based formal teaching at least weekly, such as Clerkship Directors (or Designee) Rounds, student morning, report or Ethics Rounds
- Teaching conferences at least weekly, e.g. Grand Rounds, Clinical Pathologic Conferences
- Clinical Skills Passports
- Self-learning: student should review patient's medical history and physical examination, imaging and pathology laboratory studies, and read about the patient's disorder and read about diagnostic and treatment options. Reading may include relevant basic science, anatomy and procedures.
- Complete an on-line patient exposure log
- Direct teaching time with attending at least three days a week
- Evaluation of knowledge, skills, and attitudes relating to the clerkship
Other elements of clerkships (not required for all clerkships):
- Clerkship designated learning events, e.g. radiology rounds
- Exercises in Clinical Problem Solving, e.g. CLIPP Cases, Virtual Patient
- New patient admission opportunities, e.g. night call, night float
- In ward rotations, student should experience the life of a resident.
- Workshops for clinical skill learning.
04/14/08