Geriatric medicine curriculum standards

Ready to perform without supervision

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

The trainee will:

• evaluate, adjust, and tailor the mode and content of communication to patients’ circumstances and levels of understanding
• complement communication styles and techniques by including others, regardless of patients’ cognition
• summarise rehabilitation plans and goals for patients, family or carers, and health care team
• discuss perioperative risks associated with surgical procedures and an approach for potentially life-threatening problems consistent with patients’ values and preferences
• use an appropriate communication strategy and modalities for communication, such as face-to-face, email, or phone calls
• elicit patients’ views, concerns, and preferences, promoting rapport
• provide information to patients in plain language, avoiding jargon, acronyms, and complex medical terms
• encourage questions, and answer them thoroughly
• ask patients to share their thoughts or explain the management plan in their own words, to verify understanding
• convey information considerately and sensitively to patients, seeking clarification if unsure of how best to proceed
• treat older people respectfully, and listen to their views
• recognise the role of family or carers and, when appropriate, encourage patients to involve family or carers in decisions about their care
• adapt communication techniques to accommodate for sensory impairments

Requires some supervision

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

The trainee may:

• select appropriate modes of communication
• engage patients in discussions, avoiding the use of jargon
• check patients’ understanding of information
• adapt communication style in response to patients’ age, developmental level, and cognitive, physical, cultural, socioeconomic, and situational factors
• collaborate with patient liaison officers as required

Ready to perform without supervision

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

The trainee will:

• discuss with patients their condition and the available management options, including potential benefit and harm
• provide information to patients in a way they can understand before asking for their consent
• consider older people’s capacity for decision making and consent
• recognise and take precautions where patients may be vulnerable, such as issues of self-harm or elder abuse
• participate in processes to manage patient complaints

Requires some supervision

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

The trainee may:

• inform patients of the material risks associated with the proposed management plan
• treat information about patients as confidentia

Ready to perform without supervision

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

The trainee will:

• discuss the aetiology of diseases and explain the purpose, nature, and extent of the assessment to be conducted
• obtain informed consent or other valid authority before involving patients in teaching

Requires some supervision

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

The trainee may:

• respond appropriately to information sourced by patients and to patients’ knowledge regarding their condition

Ready to perform without supervision

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

The trainee will:

• provide information to patients that is based on guidelines issued by the National Health and Medical Research Council and/or Health Research Council of NZ
• provide information to patients in a way they can understand before asking for their consent to participate in research
• obtain an informed consent or other valid authority before involving patients in research

Requires some supervision

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

The trainee may:

• refer to evidence-based clinical guidelines
• demonstrate an understanding of the limitations of the evidence and the challenges of applying research in daily practice

Ready to perform without supervision

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

The trainee will:

• demonstrate effective and culturally competent communication with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Māori peoples
• effectively communicate with members of other cultural groups by meeting patients’ specific language, cultural, and communication needs
• use qualified language interpreters or cultural interpreters to help meet patients’ communication needs when necessary
• provide plain language and culturally appropriate written materials to patients when possible

Requires some supervision

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

The trainee may:

• identify when to use interpreters
• allow enough time for communication across linguistic and cultural barriers

Ready to perform without supervision

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

The trainee will:

• encourage and support patients to be well informed about their health and to use this information wisely when they make decisions
• encourage and support patients and, when relevant, their families or carers, in caring for themselves and managing their health
• demonstrate respectful professional relationships with patients
• prioritise honesty, patients’ welfare, and community benefit above self-interest
• develop a high standard of personal conduct, consistent with professional and community expectations
• support patients’ rights to seek second opinions

Requires some supervision

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

The trainee may:

• respect the preferences of patients
• communicate appropriately, consistent with the context, and respect patients’ needs and preferences
• maximise patient autonomy and support their decision making
• avoid sexual, intimate, and/or financial relationships with patients
• demonstrate a caring attitude towards patients
• respect patients, including protecting their rights to privacy and confidentiality
• behave equitably towards all, irrespective of gender, age, culture, social and economic status, sexual preferences, beliefs, contribution to society, illness-related behaviours or the illness itself
• use social media ethically and according to legal obligations to protect patients’ confidentiality and privacy

Ready to perform without supervision

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

The trainee will:

• communicate effectively with health care team members involved in patients’ care, and with patients and families or carers
• discuss medical assessments, treatment plans, and investigations with patients and primary care teams, working collaboratively with them
• discuss patient care needs with health care team members to align them with the appropriate resources
• facilitate an environment where all team members feel they can contribute and their opinion is valued
• communicate accurately and succinctly, and motivate others on the health care team
• use conflict management techniques with families and the multidisciplinary team

Requires some supervision

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

The trainee may:

• answer questions from team members
• summarise, clarify, and communicate responsibilities of health care team members
• keep health care team members focused on patient outcomes

Ready to perform without supervision

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

The trainee will:

• help patients navigate the healthcare system by working in collaboration with other services, such as community health centres and consumer organisations
• advocate for vulnerable and older patients in all settings, recognising the impacts of ageism on patient health, wellbeing, and access to care

Requires some supervision

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

The trainee may:

• communicate with and involve other health professionals as appropriate