CHRISTIAN MEDICAL COLLEGE & HOSPITAL, VELLORE 632 004 DEPARTMENT OF DISTANCE EDUCATION POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA IN FAMILY MEDICINE PROSPECTUS (Commencing Jan.2009) I. PREAMBLE: There are close to 2,50,000 General Practitioners in India who have no access to postgraduate education. Since the government has not mandated continuous education for physicians, most of the GP s do not make much effort to remain up-to-date with the developments in the medical education. The lack of continuous updating of the knowledge and skills by these GP s has led to a situation where there are excessive referrals because they are not confident in handling cases even with the slightest complication. Many patients, therefore, end up visiting multi-specialty hospitals where the health care costs are very high. No wonder, in a World Bank study done in the year 2004, it was found that the private health care sector was responsible for drowning many below the poverty line! A Family Physician is a multi-competent specialist who not only provides the point of first contact, but also provides the continuum of care. The number of Family Physicians doctors satisfying the above definition in the Indian sub-continent is grossly inadequate to cater to the huge population. It is with the above scenario in mind that the Department of Distance Education (DDE) of the C.M.C. &H., Vellore started the two-year course leading to the Post-Graduate Diploma in Family Medicine (PGDFM). The first batch of candidates started their course in November, 2006. II. THE OBJECTIVE: The objective of the PGDFM programme is to build the capacity of GP s and enable them to manage more cases so that referral becomes less necessary hence the motto: Refer less, Resolve more. The ultimate beneficiaries of the programme will be patients from the financially weaker section of the population, especially those from the rural areas. Thus, the programme leads to a win-win situation for the patients and the GP s, as the former find a one-window solution, while the latter (who would have become multi-competent) find a much larger scope for their practice. III. THE COURSE FORMAT: a) Duration: The PGDFM progamme is a two-year course. However, considering the fact that the candidates are medical practitioners with commitments, a candidate can take up to a maximum of 4 years to complete the course with the knowledge and written permission of the DDE of the C.M.C. &H. (Please see the important dates specific to the forthcoming batch in Section VI of this prospectus) b) The Curriculum: The DDE prepares a curriculum comprising of about 75 problem-based, interactive modules. The modules are prepared by highly
qualified and experienced faculty and as such are unmatched in quality by any criteria and standards. Problem-based Modules for the PGDFM 1. Chest Pain 39. Haematuria 2. Seizures I 40. Hemetemesis & Malena 3. Seizures II 41. Irregular Periods 4. Seizures in children 42. Antenatal care, common problems & danger symptoms in pregnancy 5. Dyspnoea Acute/Chronic 43. Prescribing in pregnancy & lactation 6. Asthma 44. Obesity 7. Unconscious Patient 45. Groin & Scrotal swellings 8. Poisoning 46. HIV diagnosis initial evaluation & Counseling 9. Stings & snake bite 47. Newborn care 10. Burns 48. Hypertension 11. Acute abdominal pain 49. Shock 12. Dizziness & Vertigo 50. Erectile dysfunction 13. Cough 51. Bleeding diathesis 14. Dyspepsia 52. Lower GI bleeding 15. Anaemia 53. Diabetes Mellitus I 16. Vomiting/Nausea 54. Diabetes Mellitus II 17. Diarrhoea Adult 55. Low back pain 18. Diarrhoea Paediatric 56. Head injury 19. Fever I 57. Malnutrition 20. Fever II Miscellaneous: 21. Bleeding per rectum 58. Heel pain / Burning feet 22. Nasal Discharge 59. Common skin lesions 23. Neck swellings 60. Ear pain / discharge 24. Headache 61. Leg ulcers 25. Joint pain 62. Immunization Adult & Paediatric 26. Aches & Pains 63. Contraceptives 27. Lumps / swellings anywhere 64. Incessantly crying child 28. Jaundice 65. Developmental delay 29. Dysuria / frequency polyuria 66. Movement disorders 30. Genital ulcer / discharge 67. Infertility 31. Oedema 68. White discharge 32. Rash with fever 69. Hemiplegia 33. Insomnia Improving your practice: 34. Common Psychiatric disorders 70. Sterilization 35. Weight loss 71. Health Education 36. Diminished vision 72. Screening 37. Red Eye. 73. Master health check-up 38. Constipation 74. Violence to women & children 75. Management of family practice. NOTE: The above list is subject to minor variation, if found necessary. c) Video-lectures: At least 70 video-lectures are also made available to the candidates during the two-year course. Expert faculty from the CMC will be interacting online with the candidates and answering their queries based on these
video-lectures at the live tele-conferencing sessions organized during the contact programmes. d) Contact Programmes: Participants will be required to attend 3 sessions of contact classes (10+10+10days) / 2years. The DDE has Regional Study Centres (RSC) located at different parts of the country for the purpose of conducting these contact classes. RSC s are attached to established hospitals with in-patient and supportive treatment facilities. Candidates are requested to mention their choice of RSC from the list given below, in the space provided for it in the application form. Candidates should make their own arrangements for food & accommodation during the Contact Programme. However, the study centres will provide assistance in procuring accommodation. List of Regional Study Centres for the PGDFM programme Tamil Nadu: 1. Christian Medical College & Hospital, Vellore 2. Christian Fellowship Hospital, Oddanchatram, Dindigul Dist. Kerala: 3. Little Flower Hospital & Research Centre, Angamaly, Ernakulum Dist. 4. Somervell Memorial CSI Medical College & Hospital, Karakonam Karnataka: 5. Bangalore Baptist Hospital, Hebbal, Bangalore 24 Andhra Pradesh 5. Vijay Marie Hospital. Khairatabad, Hyderabad-4 West Bengal: 6. Mission of Mercy Hospital. Kolkata. Delhi: 7 St. Stephen s Hospital, Tiz Hazari, Delhi 54. NOTE:(i) If the number of applicants from any of the study centres given above happens to be too small, such centre is liable to be cancelled. (ii) As far as possible, candidates will be attached to the RSC s of their choice. However, if the DDE finds it impossible to do so - either due to closure of the study centre of the candidate s choice, or due to too large a number opting for the same centre candidates should be prepared to attend the classes in another functioning study centre. For this reason, each candidate should indicate an alternate study centre from the list as his/her second choice. e) Assignments / Project Work: Candidates will be required to complete the assignments given to them through the curriculum modules, and during the contact classes. In addition they will be required to take up a project work. Consultants appointed by the DDE will evaluate the assignments and project work for the purpose of awarding the Diploma. f) Criteria for the award of Diploma: A candidate should satisfy the following criteria for the successful completion of the course: i) 50% marks in the final examination comprising of clinical and practical components
ii) 70 % attendance in the contact programme and 70% of attendance in the videolectures iii) Satisfactory completion of the assignments iv) Completion of the Project Work. v) The course should be completed within a maximum of 4 years. IV. FEE SCHEDULE: The total Course Fee for the 2-year Programme is Rs.34,000/=. The fee can be paid in 3 Installments. Last date for the payment of 1 st Installment (Rs.12,000/= ) 1 st Jan.2009 Last date for the payment of the 2 nd Installment (Rs.11,000/=) 1 st July,2009 Last date for the payment of the 3 rd Installment (Rs.11,000/=) 1 st Jan,2010 Course fee, and any other payments like the Application Fee, must be paid either by Banker s Cheque or Demand Draft drawn on a Vellore Bank in favour of Christian Medical College Vellore Association. There is an application fee of Rs.200/= (One hundred rupees only). Candidates who download the application from the net please see the next section will have to pay this when they submit the filled-in application form; candidates who obtain the prospectus and application form the office of the Co-ordinator, DDE, will have to pay this at the time of purchase itself. This can be paid in cash or by DD payable at Vellore. V. ADMISSION PROCEDURE: Applications should be made on the prescribed format that can be downloaded from www.cmcvellore.ac.in, the official website of CMC & H., Vellore. Prospectus and Application Form can also be obtained from the Co-ordinator, Dept. of Distance Education, 2 nd Floor, Main Building, Ida Scudder Road C.M.C. & H., Vellore 632 004 on payment of Rs.200/= as the Application Fee by cash, or by DD or Banker s Cheque as mentioned in the previous paragraph. Candidates who download the application form from the website should enclose the DD for the application fee when they forward the application to the Co-ordinator at the above address. Please click to download the Prospectus and the Application Form. NOTE: Use A4 size paper to print the Prospectus & Legal size paper to print the application form. Candidates may forward an advance e-copy of their application to dedu@cmcvellore.ac.in. Instructions for filling up the Application Form: 2. Application Number will be assigned by the Department of Distance Education. 3. Please use BLOCK CAPITAL LETTERS to write candidate s name and address 4. Date of birth: Enter Day-month-year format: E.g., 3 rd June 1975 should be entered as 03-06-1975 5. Carefully read the instructions when you fill the work experience. 6. Enter two choices for the Regional Study Cente from the list given in section III (d) of the prospectus. 7. Incomplete applications will be rejected. 8. The following attachments should be enclosed along with the application form: Two passport-size & one stamp size photograph. i) Degree Certificate (copy) ii) Medical Registration Certificate (copy)
iii) Applicable only for those who download the form from the net: DD/Banker s Cheque for Rs.200/= in favour of Christian Medical College Vellore Association payable at Vellore. 9. The filled in application form along with all the relevant attachments should be sent to the following address: The Co-ordinator, Department of Distance Education, 2 nd Floor, Main Building, Ida Scudder Road, Christian Medical College & Hospital, Vellore 632 004, Tamil Nadu, India. VI. IMPORTANT DATES / MONTHS TO REMEMBER: Last date for submission of Application in the prescribed form 15 Nov.,2008 Admission list published 1 st Dec, 2008 Last date for the payment of the 1 st Installment (Rs.12,000/=) of fees 1 st Jan.2009 Last date for the payment of the 2 nd Installment (Rs.11,000 /=) of fees 1 st July,2009 Last date for the payment of the 3 rd Installment (Rs.11,000/=) of fees 1 st Jan,2010 1 st Contact Programme July 2009 2 nd Contact Programme Feb,2010 3 rd Contact Programme Nov/Dec,2010 First Year Exam - Feb,2010 ( Last day of 2 nd Contact program ) Final Exam - Nov/Dec,2010 (Last day of 3 rd Contact Program)