Back Module: S-CE-S4

Patient Pathway

Module information

Module details

Title
Patient Pathway
Type
Specialist
Module code
S-CE-S4
Credits
15
Phase
3
Requirement
Compulsory

Aim of this module

This module aims to prepare clinical engineering trainees for their future autonomous patient-facing clinical role.  It focuses on developing trainees’ patient-centred approach to practice within the wider multidisciplinary team. On completion of the module the trainees will be able to lead patient episodes from referral, through clinic to reporting and specifying treatment. They will understand the particular contribution of clinical engineering in the use of healthcare technology, data analysis, critiquing of evidence, training, audit and innovation.

Work-based content

Training activities

# Learning outcome Training activity Type Action
# 1 Learning outcome 2 Training activities

Explain the distinctive role of the healthcare scientist in the patient pathway(s) to key stakeholders

 Type DTA Action View
# 2 Learning outcome 2, 4 Training activities

Explain a complex clinical condition to a multidisciplinary  meeting or training event including a clear illustration of the pathophysiological mechanisms which lead to common impairments along with current and potential future interventions

 Type DTA Action View
# 3 Learning outcome 2 Training activities

Develop and deliver a new educational resource aimed at students/trainees, clinical staff or patients

 Type DTA Action View
# 4 Learning outcome 3 Training activities

Triage new referrals appropriately in line with local service scope

 Type DTA Action View
# 5 Learning outcome 2,3,5 Training activities

Conduct and report a clinical interview, and take a history of a complex patient, leading to clear establishment of a goal setting for either a clinical assessment or intervention delivery

 Type DTA Action View
# 6 Learning outcome 2,3,4,5 Training activities

Conduct patient assessments, making use of appropriate healthcare technology based on referral and interview information, under supervision

 Type DTA Action View
# 7 Learning outcome 3,4,5 Training activities

Prescribe technology for use in the clinical management of a patient, under supervision

 Type DTA Action View
# 8 Learning outcome 2,3,4,5,8 Training activities

Conduct a clinical review of a patient who has undergone an intervention

Make a recommendation for future management, enacting or prescribing any iterations required

 Type DTA Action View
# 9 Learning outcome 2,3,4,5,6 Training activities

Write clinical reports with supervision, and present and interpret clinical data and provide a clear rationale for advice, recommendations or intervention

 Type DTA Action View
# 10 Learning outcome 1,5,7 Training activities

Visit a range of clinical services where clinical engineers make a major contribution to patient care, identifying good and transferable practice

Present the findings to the local multidisciplinary team, reflecting on differing approaches and key learning

 Type DTA Action View
# 11 Learning outcome 6,7 Training activities

Appraise the evidence base for a new model of service delivery or practice to improve the effectiveness of the patient pathway

 Type DTA Action View
# 12 Learning outcome 2,6,7 Training activities

Draft an outline business case, including formal options appraisal, for a new model of service delivery or practice to improve the effectiveness of the patient pathway

Draft a plan for implementation

 Type DTA Action View
# 13 Learning outcome 5,6,8 Training activities

Interrogate existing quantified patient outcome data across a clinical service

 Type DTA Action View
# 14 Learning outcome 4,5,6,7,8 Training activities

Critique outcome measures (appropriateness and accessibility) for a clinical service and make recommendations for improvements

 Type DTA Action View
# 15 Learning outcome 2,6,7,9 Training activities

Conduct a clinical audit, and report findings and make recommendations

 Type DTA Action View

Assessments

Complete 3 Case-Based Discussions

Complete 3 DOPs or OCEs

Direct Observation of Practical Skills Titles

  • Triage a referral and plan the proposed clinical episode, identifying key resources and potential assessment strategies.
  • Lead a clinical episode involving patient assessment.
  • Lead a clinical episode involving prescription or review of healthcare technology.

Observed Clinical Event Titles

  • Gather information on a patient from another healthcare professional.
  • Present information about a service to stakeholders.
  • Explain clinical data to other members of the multidisciplinary team as part of a routine review.

Learning outcomes

# Learning outcome
1

Compare and contrast clinical engineering services delivering direct patient care.
2

Communicate clearly and effectively with a range of stakeholders to inform and educate.
3

Conduct a patient episode from referral to treatment including identification and prescription of healthcare technology.
4

Explain the clinical impact of pathological processes and mechanisms and formulate appropriate measurement and intervention strategies for the condition.
5

Appraise patient experiences, requirements and goals across specialist service areas.
6

Manipulate, visualise, analyse and interpret clinical and clinical service derived data.
7

Critically appraise developments and map implementation in a clinical service, considering the financial and operational factors alongside clinical need.
8

Evaluate outcome and evidence data for an individual or group of patients.
9

Perform and report a clinical audit.

Clinical experiences

Clinical experiences help you to develop insight into your practice and a greater understanding of your specialty's impact on patient care. Clinical experiences should be included in your training plan and you may be asked to help organise your experiences. Reflections and observations from your experiences may help you to advance your practice and can be used to develop evidence to demonstrate your awareness and appreciation of your specialty.

Activities

  1. Visit other patient-facing clinical engineering services to appreciate the range of assistive technologies and physiological measurements including gait analysis, posture management, FES, and electronic assistive technology (EAT).
  2. Attend a national events, such as a special interest groups or conferences, to consolidate knowledge of a clinical specialism.
  3. Attend a clinical audit meeting.
  4. Observe clinical engineering services working in the hospital environment including outpatient services, wards and surgery theatre.
  5. Visit clinical engineering services working in the community including in patients’ homes, educational settings and primary care.

Academic content (MSc in Clinical Science)

Important information

The academic parts of this module will be detailed and communicated to you by your university. Please contact them if you have questions regarding this module and its assessments. The module titles in your MSc may not be exactly identical to the work-based modules shown in the e-portfolio. Your modules will be aligned, however, to ensure that your academic and work-based learning are complimentary.

Learning outcomes

On successful completion of this module the trainee will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate a critical awareness of range of different long-term clinical conditions using a biopsychosocial framework by conducting a structured appraisal of the published literature.
  2. Critically evaluate clinical interview and assessment methods.
  3. Critically apply statistical and other analytical methodologies to patient data to assist in decision making and evaluation of outcome.
  4. Describe structured and quantified approaches to options appraisal, risk assessment and goal attainment scoring
  5. Critically appraise hard and soft systems methodologies to understand and improve clinical services.

Indicative content

  • Introduction to evidence-based medicine:
    • The RCT.
    • Alternative study designs.
      • Single subject designs.
      • Longitudinal studies.
        • Identification and accommodation of confounding variables.
      • Enhanced clinical practice.
        • Clinical experience.
        • Patient preferences.
        • Knowledge transfer
  • The medical model and biopsychosocial frameworks.
  • The patient pathway:
    • Systems analysis of the patient pathway.
    • Pathway redesign/clinical service development.
  • Clinical interview methodologies.
  • Outcome measures:
    • Psychometric properties.
      • Face, content, concurrent etc.
      • Descriptive, predictive, explanatory.
    • Measuring change (minimal detectable differences/minimally clincally important differences).
  • Reporting clinical findings.
  • Primer in neurology.
  • Primer in musculoskeletal function and musculoskeletal biomechanics.
  • Primer in genetics/translational medicine.
  • Primer in human development.
  • Pathophysiology of common conditions seen in clinical engineering practice.
  • Assistive technologies:
    • The principles of prescription, including matching the technology to the patient..
    • Wheelchair design and modification.
    • Seating design and modification.
    • Assisting ambulation.
      • Functional electrical simulation (FEA).
      • Movement analysis.
      • Walkers, sticks and crutches.
    • Electronic assistive technology (EAT).
    • Devices for improving communication.
    • Devices to support activities of everyday living.
    • Case studies.
  • Medical and surgical treatments, physiotherapy and occupational therapy:
    • Case studies.
  • Measurement services and methods:
    • Principles of clinical, electrophysiological and biomechanical measurements..
    • Case studies in EEG, EMG, GI, audiological science, cardiac science and respiratory science.
  • NHS funding models and commissioning for service development and clinical research.

Module assigned to

Specialties

Specialty code Specialty title Action
Specialty code SPE3-4-22 Specialty title Clinical Engineering [2022] Action View
Specialty code SPE3-4-23 Specialty title Clinical Engineering [2023] Action View
Specialty code SPE3-4-24 Specialty title Clinical Engineering [2024] Action View
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