Computer use embedded in new doctors' curriculum
05 Apr 2005
The use of modern IT systems and a willingness to use and learn about new technology have been included as core components of the new curriculum for junior doctors.
Under the new trainee doctors will have to demonstrate they are competent in a number of areas including communication and consultation skills, patient safety and team working as well as the more traditional elements of medical training.
The two year 'foundation programme syllabus' requires trainee doctors to learn a range of skills including communication, the undertaking and use of research, time management and use of evidence and data.
Chief Medical Officer for England Sir Liam Donaldson said. "This is very much a 'curriculum for patient safety', ensuring that at the end of their two years of training doctors are both confident and competent and we are delighted that the UK is leading the world in innovations in medical education."
Chairman of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges Professor Sir Alan Craft said: "The curriculum is an important piece of work. It heralds a new era in medical training and education in the UK. As healthcare changes, the Foundation Programme curriculum will ensure that doctors going through the system are fit for the modern healthcare service."
Although specific IT competencies are covered under the rather vague requirement for 'appropriate IT skills', the new curriculum does refer to specific areas in which clinical systems will be expected to be used by future junior doctors.
In the core competencies section on therapeutics and safe prescribing the curriculum sets out the requirement that junior doctors must "use the BNF (British National Formulary), and computer-based prescribing decision support to access information about drug treatments including drug interactions."
Similarly on the core competency of "Understands and applies the principles of medical data and information management: keeps contemporary accurate, legible, signed and attributable notes' the new curriculum sets the requirement that trainee doctors must 'effectively use both written and computer-based information systems".
In acknowledgement of the move towards a world of shared electronic record keeping the document says trainee clinicians must also "adapt style of record keeping to multidisciplinary case record where appropriate."
The same section also says that second year foundation (F2) students must also be able to demonstrate "record keeping and intra/internet access skills to F1 trainees or students."
Dr Kate Grisaffi, a pilot of the new curriculum, said: "My experience of the Foundation Programme has been very positive. I chose to do it because it gave me the opportunity to experience a wide range of specialties. The best thing about this being part of this pilot was developing the generic skills essential for all doctors - good acute care skills, communication and teamworking skills."
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