Rehabilitation medicine curriculum standards (adult)

Ready to perform without supervision

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

The trainee will:

• use an appropriate communication strategy and modalities for communication, such as face-to-face, digital health, email, or phone calls
• provide information to patients in plain language, avoiding jargon, acronyms, and complex medical terms
• elicit patients’ views, concerns, and preferences, promoting rapport
• 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 young people respectfully, and listen to their views
• use active listening skills to determine the understanding of patients and their family or carers
• recognise the role of family or carers and, when appropriate, encourage patients to involve their family or carers in decisions about their care
• evaluate, adjust, and tailor the mode and content of communication to patients’ circumstances and levels of understanding
• use easy-to-read resources to support comprehension

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' understandings of information
• adapt communication styles 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 their potential risk to benefit ratios
• provide information to patients in a way they can understand before asking for their consent
• consider patients' 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 risks associated with the proposed management plan
• treat information about patients as confidential

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 assessments 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 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:

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

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 are making 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, patient 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:

• summarise case complexities into clear plans and goals for patients, their family or carers, and health care teams
• discuss medical assessments, treatment plans, and investigations with patients and primary care teams, working collaboratively with them
• communicate effectively with health care team members involved in patients’ care, and with patients, families or carers
• discuss patients’ care needs with health care team members to align patients with appropriate resources
• facilitate an environment in which all team members feel they can contribute and their opinions are valued
• communicate accurately and succinctly, and motivate other health care team members

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 on behalf of patients for appropriate resources and equipment to achieve relevant goals and a sustainable discharge plan
• advocate for patient resources relevant to specific needs, such as facilitating resources and funding applications

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