Curriculum standards

Ready to perform without supervision

Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision

The trainee will:

• use digital communication tools and applications to aid in safe communication at transitions of care
• write relevant and detailed medical record entries, including clinical assessments and management plans
• write comprehensive and accurate summaries of care, including discharge summaries, clinic letters, and transfer documentation
• initiate and maintain verbal communication with other health professionals when required
• communicate with patients, families, and/or carers about transitions of care, and engage and support these parties in decision making, including appropriate safety-netting advice
• communicate proactively with peers and managers regarding workload and patient care issues when required
• incorporate appropriate LGBTQIA+ safe language, including gender affirming language
• communicate effectively and apply understanding of the role of primary care providers
• check quality and accuracy of reports or documentation generated by others and technologies, including artificial intelligence-informed large language models

Requires some supervision

Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity

The trainee may:

• communicate clearly with clinicians and other caregivers
• use standardised verbal and written templates to improve the reliability of information transfer and prevent errors and omissions
• communicate accurately and in a timely manner to ensure effective transitions between settings, and continuity and quality of care

Ready to perform without supervision

Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision

The trainee will:

• identify and mitigate risks present during transitions of care or handover
• use and respect the expertise of primary care professionals in coordinating care of patients outside hospital
• recognise the importance of the context of care in the environments to which patients transition
• work with colleagues to ensure management plans are appropriate and sustainable in the new context
• use electronic tools (where available) to securely store and transfer patient information
• use consent processes, including written consent if required, for the release and exchange of information
• recognise the medicolegal context of professional communications, including confidentiality and conflicts of interest

Requires some supervision

Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity

The trainee may:

• ensure that handover is complete, or work to mitigate risks if incomplete
• ensure all outstanding results or procedures are followed up by receiving units and clinicians
• keep patients’ information secure, adhering to relevant legislation regarding personal information and privacy

Ready to perform without supervision

Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision

The trainee will:

• integrate clinical education in handover sessions and other transition of care meetings
• tailor clinical education to the level of the professional parties involved
• demonstrate and teach best practice in handover, including closed-loop communication, and written and oral communication between health professionals

Requires some supervision

Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity

The trainee may:

• take opportunities to teach junior colleagues during handover, as necessary

Ready to perform without supervision

Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision

The trainee will:

• ensure culturally safe communication, paying attention to culture and language
• ensure patient-centred care by eliciting patient preferences
• respect patients’ choices whenever they are realistic and possible
• acknowledge and allow for differences in worldview and how this may impact on transitions in care and care planning
• recognise the timing, location, privacy, and appropriateness of sharing information with patients, whānau, their families, or carers

Requires some supervision

Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity

The trainee may:

• include relevant information regarding patients’ cultural or ethnic background in handovers, and whether an interpreter is required

Ready to perform without supervision

Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision

The trainee will:

• disclose only contextually appropriate medical and personal information
• recognise the clinical, ethical, and legal rationale for information disclosure
• share information about patients’ care in a manner consistent with privacy laws and professional guidelines on confidentiality
• explain the additional complexity related to some types of information, such as genetic information and blood-borne virus status, and seek appropriate advice about disclosure of such information
• interact in a collegial and collaborative way with professional colleagues during transitions of care

Requires some supervision

Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity

The trainee may:

• maintain respect for patients and other health professionals, including respecting privacy and confidentiality

Ready to perform without supervision

Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision

The trainee will:

• ensure patients’ care is in the most appropriate facility, setting, or provider
• facilitate patient care provision when disadvantage or vulnerability is present, such as lack of services or geographical isolation
• make appropriate decisions regarding referring or transferring patients to other services for further assessment, including regional and remote patients

Requires some supervision

Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity

The trainee may:

• use a structured approach to consider and prioritise patients’ issues
• recognise personal limitations and seek help in an appropriate way when required

Ready to perform without supervision

Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision

The trainee will:

• share the workload of transitions of care appropriately, including delegation
• recognise the medical governance of patient care, and the differing roles of team members
• work effectively as a member of professional teams, showing respect for the roles and expertise of other health professionals
• ensure that multidisciplinary teams provide the opportunity for patients’ engagement and participation when appropriate

Requires some supervision

Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity

The trainee may:

• recognise factors that impact the transfer of care, and help subsequent health professionals understand the issues to continue care
• work to overcome the potential barriers to continuity of care, appreciating the role of handover in overcoming these barriers

Ready to perform without supervision

Expected behaviours of a trainee who can routinely perform this activity without needing supervision

The trainee will:

• contribute to processes for managing risks, and identify strategies for improvement in transitions of care
• engage in organisational processes to improve transitions of care, such as formal surveys or follow-up phone calls after hospital discharge
• work with primary care liaison teams and networks to foster continuous improvement in safe transitions to primary care
• identify and build partnerships between metropolitan and rural health services to enable optimal patient care
• recognise equity barriers that may impact on safe transitions of care, and mechanisms through which these may be addressed
• be familiar with institutional support frameworks and options when advocating for patients or disadvantaged populations

Requires some supervision

Possible behaviours of a trainee who needs some supervision to perform this activity

The trainee may:

• factor transport issues and costs to patients into arrangements for transferring patients to other settings