THE MEDICAL SCHOOL PHASE 2a DIRECT OBSERVATION OF CLINICAL SKILLS IN SIMULATION (DOCSS) March 2017 Briefing Notes for Students
DIRECT OBSERVATION OF CLINICAL SKILLS IN SIMULATION (DOCSS) March 2017 Briefing Notes for Student Dear Student Kindly read the following briefing notes. 1. These assessments are being undertaken by all Phase 2a medical students. 2. You will be assessed regarding your competence in performing the requested clinical skills/ procedures in simulation. For the purposes of this assessment, a competent student is one who approaches the task in a professional manner, and performs it safely and effectively, in accordance with the assessment criteria, demonstrating good understanding of the task and good decisionmaking skills.
3. The Phase 2a DOCSS Assessment will consist of the following stations: Station number Clinical Skill assessed Duration 1. Obtaining a 12 lead ECG and setting up a cardiac monitor 2. 2a) Administering a nebuliser 2b) Advising a patient on inhaler technique 3. 3a) Administering an intramuscular injection 3b) Administering a subcutaneous injection 4. 4a) Peak expiratory flow 4b) Obtaining an arterial blood gas sample 5. 5a) Performing spirometry 5b) Administering oxygen 14 minutes 4. The 14 minute station includes 12 minutes for the student to perform the clinical skill and up to 2 minutes for verbal feedback from the examiner. 5. The 7 minute stations include 6 minutes for the student to perform the clinical skill and up to 1 minute for verbal feedback from the examiner. 6. These are mastery assessments and to be eligible for a pass, you must successfully perform the clinical skill requested. Please note that the examiner will indicate whether you have performed the procedure competently in simulation at the time of the assessment. They are also making a judgement as to whether you are now ready to carry out this procedure under appropriate supervision with patients in the clinical setting. The examiners are not making a judgement as to whether you are ready to perform a procedure unsupervised.
7. You will be awarded a pass or fail for the clinical skill being carried out. The examiner will decide whether you have performed the skill competently, or require further practice and a repeat assessment in simulation. The assessment criteria provided on the marksheet should strongly influence their decision but minor omissions or errors that do not constitute unsafe practice may still constitute a pass. 8. As stated earlier these are mastery assessments and if need be the student may undertake as many attempts as required, till they can perform the clinical skill competently. Students who fail the assessments will be provided with remedial teaching/training and then given further opportunities to undertake the clinical skill. 9. Any student displaying unsafe practice that could put their patients, their colleagues or themselves at risk, will automatically be awarded a fail for the relevant clinical skill(s). Apart from unsafe practice there are no other specific criteria or red flags which might lead to a fail. As an expert it is at discretion of the examiner what they would like to award the student. 10. During the assessments, you should not provide a running commentary while performing the procedure. You should continue to interact with your patient as you would do in normal day to day activity. 11. Each station includes instructions for the student. Kindly read your instructions before beginning the task. The facilitators will ring a bell indicating the start and end of the station and direct you to the next station. Depending upon your station you will also be given a verbal prompt at 6 minutes or at 12 minutes. At this point you will need to stop. 12. At the conclusion of 6 minutes the examiner will give you verbal feedback regarding your performance and inform you whether you have passed or failed this station.
13. At the conclusion of 12 minutes the examiner will give you verbal feedback regarding your performance and inform you whether you have passed or failed this station. 14. The marksheets will be retained by the School for future reference. A copy will be given back to you. All relevant information will be uploaded to your individual e-logbook as soon as possible following completion of the DOCSS assessments. 15. Kindly read the stations fully and let me know if you have any specific question or general enquiries about the DOCSS assessments. I shall be more than happy to respond to them. 16. We will conduct a briefing for students on the day prior to the start of the assessments. Do make sure that you check that date and time of your DOCSS assessments. If you are unable to attend on your allotted day then do let the Medical School know as soon as possible. 17. If you are unable to attend on the day due to any unavoidable circumstances, kindly inform the Medical School, Clinical Skills Centre or email at the email addresses stated below. 18. If you have any queries regarding the DOCSS assessments please contact: Academic/Station specific queries: Please contact Dr Amir Burney at a.burney@sheffield.ac.uk Mr Martin Hague at m.g.hague@sheffield.ac.uk 19. Administrative/Timetabling queries: Please contact Miss Helen March at H.E.March@sheffield.ac.uk
We look forward to meeting you. Good luck with your preparation and the assessments. Yours sincerely, Dr Amir Burney Co- Director for Studies Phase 2a and 2b Academic Lead for Clinical Skills University of Sheffield a.burney@sheffield.ac.uk