Surgery

Clerkship Objectives Index | Ambulatory | Emergency Med | Family Med | Internal Med | Neurology | Ob/Gyn | Peds | Psych | Surgery | Sub-I

CURRENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES & ALIGNMENT

Overarching Goal

• Demonstrate mastery of the overall care and workup of the surgical patient, emphasizing the medical comorbidities, psychological, social and other complicating factors.

Overall Goal & Clerkship Learning Objectives

1: Knowledge for Practice (KP)

• Mastery of examination, diagnosis, etiology, resuscitation, and initial treatment of the following areas of surgical care:
  • Acute abdomen
  • Gastrointestinal hemorrhage
  • Breast examination, workup and management of breast mass, mammographic lesion, benign and malignant breast disease
  • Initial resuscitation of the injured or burned patient, outlining the priorities of initial trauma care
  • Shock, its pathophysiology, etiology, and classification

2: Patient Care (PC): Develop skills necessary to care for patients with problems commonly seen by Internists.

• Perform a history and physical exam on a surgical patient, with attention to medical conditions which may impact the outcome of the operation.
• Perform an H&P on a patient with an acute or chronic surgical condition, reach a differential diagnosis, and formulate a plan of treatment.
• Interpret findings and compose an initial plan of treatment for common surgical problems seen in primary care settings.
• Demonstrate knowledge and skills in the care of the surgical patient, including:
  • Basic classes and techniques of anesthesia
  • Treatment of post-operative pain
  • Wound healing basics, recognizing normal and abnormal wound healing and ability to properly dress an incision or open wound
  • Fluid, electrolyte, and acid-base balance by writing fluid resuscitation orders and addressing electrolyte imbalances
  • Routes, techniques and management of nutrition therapy. Evaluate the nutrition risk of a patient.
  • Hemostasis basics and disorders which may complicate surgery
  • Surgical infections, postoperative complications, and antibiotic use
• Demonstrate skill in practical and motor aspects of surgical care including:
  • Participate in the operative care of the patient by scrubbing into surgery, demonstrate sterile technique, gowning and procedures.
  • Surgical record keeping, both written and electronic, including postoperative orders, and succinct, direct documentation.
  • Familiarity with basic surgical procedures, dressings, drains, and instruments.
  • Suturing a simulated or actual incision to the satisfaction of the surgeon.
• Demonstrate knowledge and performance of surgical decision making at the extremes of age, concepts of futile surgical care and surgical palliation of incurable disease processes.

3. Practice-Based Learning and Improvement (PBLI)

• Demonstrate knowledge of the peer review process and quality improvement processes as demonstrated in morbidity and mortality conferences.

4. Interprofessional and Communication Skills (ICS)

• Demonstrate knowledge and observe the process of informed consent.
• Demonstrate skill in the high intensity procedure centered team of the operating room, procedure rooms, and intensive care units

5. Professionalism: Demonstrate commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities treating patients with respect, demonstrating compassion and empathy, and advocating for patients), while exhibiting a strong work ethic and adhering to ethical principles.

• Demonstrate professional behavior especially in these areas:
  • Daily care of the patient as part of a surgical team
  • Communication with residents, faculty, physician extenders, and hospital staff
  • Communication with patients and families
  • Communication with health care personnel
  • Appearance in all clinical settings

6. Systems-Based Practice (SBP): Effectively use resources to care for patients.

• Demonstrate the ability to evaluate the proper roles in interventional and surgical care in the overall care of the patient.
• Assess the suitability of intervention in patients with comorbidities, variations in access to surgical care, and care at the extremes of age.
• Identify system failures and contribute to a culture of safety and improvement by evaluating the morbidity and mortality of interventional procedures

7. Interprofessional Collaboration (IPC)

• Demonstrate skills of operating room collaboration with the preoperative team, anesthesia team, nursing, allied health and physician extenders in this environment

8. Personal and Professional Development (PPD)

• Demonstrate commitment to professional growth as through self-reflection, self-assessment, and personal ownership of responsibilities including development of a plan professional growth that includes reading about every patient cared for and completing assignments on time without complaints.