Training activity information
Details
Present a patient pathway to the multidisciplinary team for a patient you have seen with one of the following conditions: Epilepsy syndromes Acquired brain injuries Infections Non epileptic
Type
Developmental training activity (DTA)
Evidence requirements
Evidence the activity has been undertaken by the trainee​.
Reflection on the activity at one or more time points after the event including learning from the activity and/or areas of the trainees practice for development.
An action plan to implement learning and/or to address skills or knowledge gaps identified.
Considerations
Patient centred care and support Patient pathways Further testing Pathophysiology Treatment options Differential diagnoses Multidisciplinary team working Decision making Effective communication Scope of practice Evidence based practice Confidentiality and information governance
Reflective practice guidance
The guidance below is provided to support reflection at different time points, providing you with questions to aid you to reflect for this training activity. They are provided for guidance and should not be considered as a mandatory checklist. Trainees should not be expected to provide answers to each of the guidance questions listed.
Before action
- Consider what information about the chosen patient is essential for your presentation. This might include their EEG findings, clinical history, other relevant investigations, and the current stage of their care pathway. Think about any specific guidelines or protocols related to the condition you will be presenting.
- What aspects of presenting to a multidisciplinary team are you hoping to develop? This could include your communication skills, your ability to synthesise and present complex information, or your understanding of the roles of different team members. What is your current understanding of patient pathways for paediatric neurophysiology patients with conditions like epilepsy, acquired brain injuries, infections, or non-epileptic events? Have you observed similar presentations before? What are your strengths and weaknesses in presenting information to a group?
- Ensure you understand the expectations for the presentation, the format required, and who will be present in the multidisciplinary team meeting. Discuss which patient case would be most appropriate to present and any specific aspects your training officer would like you to focus on. What questions might the multidisciplinary team ask? How will you ensure your presentation is clear and concise? What will you do if you encounter information you are unsure about during the presentation? Are you feeling confident, nervous, or something else? Understanding your initial feelings can help you prepare more effectively. For example, if you are nervous about public speaking, you might dedicate extra time to rehearsing your presentation.
In action
- How are you approaching the presentation of the patient pathway? Why are you structuring it in this particular way? Are you deciding to emphasise certain aspects of the pathway or the patient’s history more than others? Why are you making these choices during the presentation? Are you finding it easy to explain certain parts of the pathway based on your previous knowledge, or are there areas where you need to think more carefully about your explanation?
- Is the multidisciplinary team understanding the patient pathway you are presenting? Are they engaging with the information? Are there any questions you are finding difficult to answer? Is the team’s reaction different to what you expected? Are there any technical issues with your presentation? Are you noticing how different team members respond to the information? Are you gaining a better understanding of the perspectives of other disciplines involved in the patient’s care? Are you drawing upon your understanding of paediatric neurophysiology patient pathways and your communication skills during this presentation?
- If your initial explanation isn’t clear, are you thinking about different ways to present the information? If the discussion takes an unexpected turn, how are you adjusting your approach? Are there any senior colleagues present who could offer clarification or support if needed? Are you aware of when to ask for help if you encounter a situation you are unsure about? Are you focusing on presenting the patient pathway within your role as a trainee Neurophysiologist?
On action
- Begin by summarising the key points of the experience. What were the main aspects of the presentation? What were the key discussion points raised by the multidisciplinary team? What was the overall tone and engagement of the multidisciplinary team during your presentation? Did you notice any specific reactions or questions from particular members of the team (e.g., neurologist, nurse, other allied health professionals)? What were the strengths and weaknesses of your presentation delivery? Consider aspects like clarity, conciseness, and confidence. Reflecting on your reflect-in-action notes, how did your in-the-moment adaptations influence the way the activity unfolded?
- What skills or knowledge did you develop or improve through this activity? Did you enhance your communication skills, your understanding of multidisciplinary team working, or your knowledge of the specific patient pathway? Were there any unexpected challenges or successes during the activity? What did you learn from these? Did you encounter any questions you weren’t prepared for? Did any part of your presentation go particularly well? Did you make any changes to your presentation or responses based on your real-time reflections? How will the experience of presenting to a multidisciplinary team be relevant in your future role as a Healthcare Scientist? Consider the importance of effective communication and understanding patient pathways.
- Are there specific aspects of your presentation skills, knowledge of patient pathways, or ability to answer questions that you need to work on? How will this experience inform your preparation for future presentations or interactions with multidisciplinary teams? Will you review specific aspects of the patient pathway? Will you seek feedback from your training officer or other team members? Will you practice your presentation skills? What support or resources might you need to further develop in the areas identified through this reflection? Might you benefit from observing other multidisciplinary team meetings, discussing challenging cases with senior colleagues, or reviewing relevant literature on communication strategies?
Beyond action
- Now that some time has passed since you presented the patient pathway to the multidisciplinary team, revisit your reflections from the ‘reflect-in-action’ and ‘reflect-on-action’ stages. What new insights can you gain from reviewing these reflections with a fresh perspective?
- Have you since participated in or observed other presentations or multidisciplinary team meetings? Can you identify any specific communication styles, methods of presenting information, or ways of engaging with the team that you have consciously or unconsciously incorporated into your practice as a result of this experience?
- How does this experience contribute to your overall understanding of paediatric neurophysiology patient pathways and your development of effective communication skills with all stakeholders? What overarching learning points or actions can you identify across multiple reflection activities?
- Have you had the opportunity to discuss your experience of presenting this patient pathway with colleagues? Did their perspectives or shared experiences offer you any new ways of understanding the event or your performance? Has your initial assessment of the situation evolved through these conversations?
- Even though this specific presentation to the multidisciplinary team might not be repeated in the same way, how has this experience contributed to the development of your broader professional skills, such as your confidence in public speaking, your ability to articulate complex clinical information clearly, or your understanding of team dynamics?
- Have you had opportunities to present information in other contexts since this DTA? Have you noticed any changes in your approach to communication or preparation for such events? How has the learning from this experience influenced how you now think about patient pathways and multidisciplinary working in general? How has the experience of planning and delivering this presentation, and reflecting upon it, helped you to develop skills that will be valuable for your observed assessments? For example, has it improved your ability to structure a coherent argument, respond to questions, or tailor your communication to a specific audience?
- What skills that you developed or refined through presenting this patient pathway (e.g., communication, critical thinking, organisation, teamwork) will be valuable in your future role as a qualified Healthcare Scientist in Neurophysiology?
- What specific steps will you take to continue developing your presentation skills, your understanding of multidisciplinary team working, and your knowledge of patient pathways in paediatric neurophysiology as you progress in your training and beyond? This might include seeking further opportunities to present, observing experienced colleagues, or engaging in further learning on specific topics.
Relevant learning outcomes
| # | Outcome |
|---|---|
| # 3 |
Outcome
Demonstrate effective and compassionate communication skills with all stakeholders, including patients and the multidisciplinary team. |
| # 6 |
Outcome
Describe paediatric neurophysiology patient pathways. |