Consult Year 1

RHEUMATOLOGY CONSULT SERVICE-YEAR 1

The principle educational goals for the Consult Service for first year rheumatology fellows are indicated for each of the six ACGME competencies. The goals for BMC and VA consult service rotations are identical. The second column of the table below indicates the relevant principle teaching/learning for each goal, using the legend below.

Legend for Learning Activities (See attached for explanation)

AR-Attending Rounds	DPC-Direct Patient Care
CCC-Clinical Case Conference	RC-Radiology Conference
FC-Fellow Curriculum	JC-Journal Club
PC-Pathology Conference	Inter-Hospital Rounds-IHR

*All Fellows are expected to read about their patients in an appropriate rheumatology text and supplement this general reading with references in the primary literature. Additionally Fellows are expected to communicate copies of relevant primary literature/reviews to housestaff and others who request consultation.

1) Patient Care Principle Educational Goals	Learning Activities*
Obtain a rheumatic disease history	DPC, AR, CCC, FC
Examine the musculoskeletal system	DPC, AR, CCC, FC
Develop basic rheumatology procedural skills	DPC, AR
Define and prioritize the patient’s rheumatic problems	DPC, AR, CCC, FC, PC, RC
Generate and prioritize differential diagnoses	DPC, AR, CCC, FC
Develop rational, evidence-based management strategies	DPC, AR, CCC, FC, PC, RC
2) Medical Knowledge Principle Educational Goals	Learning Activities*
Expand clinically applicable knowledge base of the basic and clinical sciences underlying the care of rheumatology inpatients	DPC, AR, CCC, FC, PC, RC, JC, IHR
Access and critically evaluate current medical information and scientific evidence relevant to rheumatic patient care	DPC, AR, CCC, FC, PC, RC, JC, IHR
3) Practice-Based Learning and Improvement Principle Educational Goals	Learning Activities*
Identify and acknowledge gaps in personal knowledge and skills in the care of hospitalized patients	DPC, AR, CCC, FC, JC, IHR
Develop and implement strategies for filling gaps in knowledge and skills	AR, CCC, FC, JC, IHR
4) Interpersonal Skills and Communication Principle Educational Goals	Learning Activities*
Communicate effectively with patients and their families	DPC, AR, CCC
Communicate effectively with physician colleagues at all levels	DPC, AR, CCC, IHR
Communicate effectively with all non-physican members of the health care team to assure comprehensive and timely rheumatology care of hospitalized patients	DPC, AR, CCC, PC, RC
Present patient information concisely and clearly, verbally and in writing	DPC, AR, CCC, PC, RC, IHR
Teach colleagues effectively	DPC, AR, CCC, PC, RC, IHR
5) Professionalism Principle Educational Goals	Learning Activities*
Behave professionally toward patients, families, colleagues, and all members of the health care team	All
6) Systems-Based Practice Principle Educational Goals	Learning Activities*
Understand and utilize the multidisciplinary resources necessary to care optimally for hospitalized rheumatology patients	DPC
Collaborate with other members of the health care team to assure comprehensive rheumatology patient care	DPC
Use evidence-based, cost-conscious strategies in the care of hospitalized rheumatology patients	All

Evaluation Methods

Fellows are formally evaluated in writing, using ABIM standard evaluation forms by attendings quarterly and reviewed with the fellow by the Program Director twice yearly. The Program Director reviews all evaluations as they occur. If an unfavorable or marginal evaluation is received, an urgent appointment with the Program Director is scheduled to review the issues raised in the evaluation.