Surgery Clerkship Goals and Objectives
Department of Surgery
Goals and Objectives for VMS 3 Students on the Surgery Rotation
I. Knowledge
Goal: The student will develop an in-depth knowledge of the diseases in patients who require surgical evaluation. The department of Surgery is primarily responsible for these VC3 topics: abdominal pain, trauma, critical care, and breast disease.
Demonstration of Knowledge
· Bedside rounds
· Small group discussions
· Assigned talks
· Write-ups with integration of reading
· Assigned lectures
· SHELF exam
· Oral exam
Support Tools
· Reading topics
· Weekly core lectures
· Modules, lecture handouts on KnowledgeMap
· Digital library resources (Access Medicine, UptoDate)
· Clerkship books for purchase
· Conferences- Grand Rounds; Morbidity, Mortality, and Improvement Conference; weekly division-specific conferences
II. Skills for Diagnosis and Management of Patients
Goal: The student will be an integral part of the surgical team providing clinical care to the patient.
Demonstration of Skills for Diagnosis and Management of Patients
· Direct observation of history and physical examination skills by faculty
· Submission of writer-ups of new patient history and physical examinations
· Progress notes
· Procedure skills in the operating room
· Bedside rounds with team residents and attending
· Suture skills during intersession
III. Accessing Information (System-based practice)
Goal: The student will be able to retrieve and integrate biomedical information into patient care.
Demonstration of Accessing Information
· Write-ups, progress notes
· Discussion on rounds, conferences, and lectures
· Assigned tasks
Support Tools
· Digital library resources
· Evidence based medicine/information retrieval workshop
IV. Practice-based Learning and Improvement
Goal: The student will gain skills in reflecting upon clinical encounters in order to best organize the patient’s clinical information and to generate a treatment plan.
Demonstration of Learning
· Active questions and participation in team and small group discussions
· Writer-ups
· Bedside presentations
Support Tools
· Interactive daily rounds
· Small group sessions
· Feedback on write-ups
V. Communication Skills
Goal: The student will develop a bond with his/her patient.
Demonstration of Communication Skills
· Daily bedside progress presentations
· Writer-ups and progress notes
· Autonomy with patients
Support Tools
· Feedback on bedside presentations
· Feedback on write-ups
VI. Professionalism
Goal: The student will interact professionally with patients, families, and all health care providers functioning as an advocate for the patient’s needs.
Demonstration of Professionalism
· Bedside interaction with patients and families
· Direct communication with consultants
Support Tools
· Primary provider of the patient
· Feedback sessions with team