Curriculum standards

Ready to perform without supervision

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

The trainee will:

• 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

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 patients at risk of poor transitions of care, and mitigate this risk
• 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
• be cognisant of the medicolegal context of written communications

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

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:

• communicate with careful consideration to health literacy, language barriers, and culture regarding patient preferences, and whether they are realistic and possible, respecting patient choices
• incorporate appropriate LGBTQIA+ safe language, including gender affirming language
• recognise the timing, location, privacy, and appropriateness of sharing information with patients and 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 and share 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
• recognise 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 collegiate 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, families, carers, 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:

• recognise the respective abilities of the public and private systems and facilitate transfers of care when necessary
• ensure patients’ care is in the most appropriate facility, setting, or provider

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
• show respect for the roles and expertise of other health professionals, and work effectively as a member of professional teams
• 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 on 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
• recognise key equity determinants as they pertain to clinical care, and devise strategies to address them

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