Undergraduate Course: Year 4 - Process of Care 1 (MBCH10020)
Course Outline
| School | Edinburgh Medical School |
College | College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine |
| Credit level (Normal year taken) | SCQF Level 10 (Year 4 Undergraduate) |
| Course type | Placement |
Availability | Not available to visiting students |
| SCQF Credits | 180 |
ECTS Credits | 90 |
| Summary | The emphasis throughout Year 4 - Process of Care 1 is on achieving a solid foundation in the generalities of medical practice.
The year is organised into ten four-week blocks with the examination diet at the end.
Students rotate through the placement blocks which are based in General Practice and in Hospital settings. The emphasis throughout is on learning the fundamentals of how patients present, how the clinical team works and how clinical management is determined and implemented by teams in partnership with the patient and carers.
In the Hospital and General Practice settings, students will put into practice the foundational knowledge and skills developed in Years 1 and 2 of the MBChB programme. They will assess patients in the specialties through history-taking and clinical examination, will propose and interpret investigations and learn to create clinical management plans. Throughout, there will be an emphasis on communication and consultation skills within a holistic and patient-centred approach that recognises and addresses the physical, social and psychological perspectives of wellbeing and ill health. Students will also focus on inter-professional teamwork, the life of a ward and patient safety.
There are opportunities for formative feedback throughout the Course.
Assessments occur throughout the year with students required to complete a Clinical ePortfolio, and at the end of the year in the form of written exams (MCQ and very short answer questions) and clinical exams (Objective Structured Clinical Examination). Students are expected to demonstrate a professional approach to their studies and conduct. |
| Course description |
Specialty areas include General Medicine, Medicine of the Elderly, Cardiology, Respiratory, GP with Psychiatry, Neurosciences, Diabetes & Endocrinology, Rheumatology, GI and Liver, and Infection, with introductions to Orthopaedics & Surgical Principles.
The teaching and learning experiences are varied and will include interactive lectures, small group tutorials, directed reading using a range of materials including online lectures and computer based learning packages, resuscitation, clinical skills and communication workshops, clinical teaching in GP surgeries, clinics, wards, operating theatres, imaging and investigative labs.
The curriculum and its teaching and learning methods continue to guide the development of self-directed learning. Less of the required knowledge is provided in face to face or online lectures but there will be clear guidance to prioritise students' reading and these methods are complemented by interactive tutorials, often in the clinical setting. Completion of the Clinical ePortfolio allows students to explore in depth the needs of individual patients, and to reflect on and critique current approaches to clinical management. Students are expected to challenge themselves to undertake observations, capture feedback and store it in their portfolio to help them recall it and use it to improve their performance. At the end of placements, tutors review the evidence of performance (e.g. clinical observations) with students and provide additional written and verbal comments on progress, with suggestions for developments.
There are many other opportunities for feedback. Students are expected to reflect on this feedback, discuss it with their supervisors and use it to further direct and enhance their own learning.
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Entry Requirements (not applicable to Visiting Students)
| Pre-requisites |
|
Co-requisites | |
| Prohibited Combinations | |
Other requirements | None |
| Additional Costs | Students will have to travel between teaching and placement locations. Students are responsible for these costs, however travel subsidies are available to offset travel costs and students may be able to claim expenses back for peripheral placements in Years 4, 5 and 6.
Accommodation will be provided at most peripheral placements.
Students will also need access to a smart device or laptop to submit course work.
Students will be required to have their own stethoscope. |
Course Delivery Information
|
| Academic year 2026/27, Not available to visiting students (SS1)
|
Quota: None |
| Course Start |
Full Year |
Timetable |
Timetable |
| Learning and Teaching activities (Further Info) |
Total Hours:
1800
(
Lecture Hours 85,
Seminar/Tutorial Hours 65.5,
Supervised Practical/Workshop/Studio Hours 28,
Online Activities 28,
Feedback/Feedforward Hours 7,
Summative Assessment Hours 10,
Programme Level Learning and Teaching Hours 36,
Placement Study Abroad Hours 746,
Directed Learning and Independent Learning Hours
794 )
|
| Assessment (Further Info) |
Written Exam
70 %,
Coursework
0 %,
Practical Exam
30 %
|
| Additional Information (Assessment) |
IN-COURSE ASSESSMENT (Must Pass)
ePortfolio: Students are required to submit a clinical portfolio and submit a variety of items to this throughout the year. This includes:
- Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs) which cover the core aspects of clinical practice.
- Clinical skills sign offs
For the Professionalism requirement of the year, students must have satisfactory attendance and demonstrate professional behaviour in order to progress. This is required across teaching and placement throughout the course.
WRITTEN EXAM (70% weighting)
Students must undertake Paper 1 and Paper 2 of the Knowledge Test exam at the end of the year.
CLINICAL EXAM (30% weighting)
Students must undertake the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE) at the end of the year.
PROGRESSION CRITERIA
Students must undertake the written, clinical exams and professionalism requirements in order to progress to Year 5 of the MBChB programme.
Professionalism: Students must complete all attachments, without any professionalism issues being raised. This requires students to:
- attend all teaching and learning sessions, all small-group sessions and those with patients or guest speakers, and all interactive sessions
- engage by submitting evidence of required learning and assessment activities on attachment, by submitting/ resubmitting all required portfolio items
- demonstrate professional conduct listed under the four GMC domains - Knowledge, skills and performance; Safety and Quality; Communication, partnership, and teamwork; Maintaining trust
If a placement raises a Concern/Issue about a student's professionalism (including attendance, engagement and professional conduct), the Board of Examiners will decide on any appropriate remediation. All Issues must have been satisfactorily addressed by the end of the course allow students to progress to Year 5 Process of Care 2.
RESIT OPPORTUNITY
If students do not progress from MBChB Year 4, they will have a further opportunity to repeat Year 4 as a second attempt the following academic year. |
| Feedback |
FEEDBACK ON FORMATIVE TASKS
All Year 4 students will undertake two formative Knowledge Tests in Year 4. These will be undertaken online. Students do not need to pass either of these Knowledge Tests, though undertaking them is compulsory.
FEEDBACK ON SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
This will be provided when in-course work is returned or, in the case of exams, after the Board of Examiners ratifies marks, and includes:
Knowledge Tests: Students will receive a performance report.
Clinical examination: Students will receive a performance report. |
| Exam Information |
| Exam Diet |
Paper Name |
Minutes |
|
| Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May) | Knowledge Test Paper 1 | 100 | | | Outwith Standard Exam Diets June | Knowledge Test Paper 2 | 140 | | | Outwith Standard Exam Diets January | Progress Test 1 | 100 | | | Main Exam Diet S2 (April/May) | Progress Test 2 | 100 | |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course, the student will be able to:
- Demonstrate appropriate generic personal and professional values and behaviours.
- Demonstrate appropriate skills in clinical practice.
- Demonstrate their knowledge through scholarly application to the care of patients in practice.
|
Learning Resources
| Information is given on the virtual learning environment, Learn, to guide students to a range of learning resources that include online lectures, computer based learning packages, quizzes, reading, and videos (of clinical skills, practical procedures and other content). Increasingly tutors use the University Resource Lists to keep all recommended reading in one location. |
Additional Information
| Graduate Attributes and Skills |
Newly qualified doctors will make the care of patients their first concern, applying their knowledge and skills in a competent, ethical and professional manner and taking responsibility for their own actions in complex and uncertain situations.
Newly qualified doctors will recognise biomedical, psychological and social science principles of health and disease, and integrate and apply scholarly principles to the care of patients. Newly qualified doctors will understand the patient journey through the full range of health and social care settings. |
| Keywords | Cardio,Resp,GP,Psychiatry,Neuro,Othopaedics,Surgery,Rheumatology,GI&Liver,Team,Infection,Endocrin |
Contacts
| Course organiser | Dr Eleri Williams
Tel:
Email: Eleri.Williams@ed.ac.uk |
Course secretary | Ms Sinead Holohan
Tel:
Email: sholohan@ed.ac.uk |
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