Manage/chair interprofessional ward/unit meeting

At the early registrar level it is expected that a prevocational doctor will have acquired the skills, knowledge and behaviours to competently manage and/or chair an interprofessional ward/unit meeting.

This task describes a number of activities, as below, where proficiency should be achievable by the end of PGY3.  The doctor is encouraged to download the key clinical task guidelines and seek the support of his/her supervisor for feedback on performance. Updated key clinical tasks will be available soon for download.

  • Often significant allied health role, e.g. orthopaedics, neurosurgery
  • May overlap ward round/be followed up
  • Medical summary/plan
  • Receive and respect input from allied health
  • Consensus plan

Related Competencies:

Collaboration and teamwork

Recognise the roles and responsibilities of other professionals within the healthcare team; respect and listen to their concerns about the patient
Communication

Provide updates to the current health team, e.g. new critical issues or changes in a patient’s condition
Communication

Demonstrate high-quality written skills to communicate clinical reasoning, e.g. write case notes legibly, concisely and informatively
Communication

Gather information from a variety of sources and use it to ensure continuity of patient care, e.g. referral letters, case records, test results, electronic information
Health advocacy

Recognise the interaction between mental, physical and social wellbeing in relation to health
Health advocacy

Consider, and allow for, the impact of social, economic and political factors, as well as culture, ethnicity, sexuality, disability and spirituality, on patient illness and health
Health advocacy

Able to advise on, or help to arrange, ambulatory and community care services appropriate for each patient
Judgement and clinical decision making

Identify the common clinical conditions managed by the clinical unit and be fully conversant with the clinical knowledge, key decision-making points and issues that influence decisions within these conditions
Judgement and clinical decision making

Can explain indications, contraindications and risks involved in decision making regarding common procedures
Leadership and management

Work well with others to gain respect and trust
Medical expertise

Manage common conditions
Professionalism

Maintain an appropriate standard of professional practice and work within personal capabilities
Professionalism

Demonstrate flexibility and ability to adapt to change
Collaboration and teamwork

Work harmoniously within a team and resolve simple team conflicts
Collaboration and teamwork

Recognise expertise and roles of other health team members and staff
Collaboration and teamwork

Participate in shared decision-making activity involving patients, families and relevant health professionals, such as development of a care plan noting reference to open disclosure in ‘Communication’ section
Communication

Explain clinical reasoning to current health team using concise language and a structured approach
Communication

Communicate effectively within multidisciplinary teams, reflecting an understanding of, and respect for, different health professional perspectives
Health advocacy

Identify key issues on which to advocate for the patient to ensure their immediate clinical care and requirements are achieved
Health advocacy

Recognise health needs of an individual patient beyond their immediate condition
Health advocacy

Take into account the impact of history and experience of Indigenous Australians/Maori people, and their spirituality and relationship with the land
Judgement and clinical decision making

Able to succinctly present the patient scenario and discuss management plan
Leadership and management

Contribute to multi-disciplinary team briefings about patients, e.g. ward meetings
Medical expertise

Present common cases effectively to senior medical staff and other health professionals
Medical expertise

Identify common risks in older and complex patients, e.g. falls risk and cognitive decline. Take appropriate actions to prevent or minimise harm
Professionalism

Critically reflect on own performance and make an accurate assessment of this
Collaboration and teamwork

Identify and manage fatigue with the team
Collaboration and teamwork

Predict and manage conflict between members of the healthcare team
Communication

Collect and collate relevant information from other team members or specialist teams pertinent to decision making or patient management
Health advocacy

Work with the patient/family/carers to develop a management plan that addresses the needs and preferences of the patient
Judgement and clinical decision making

Present case management reports on common cases to unit meeting
Leadership and management

Chair a clinical meeting effectively
Medical expertise

Present complex cases effectively to senior medical staff and other health professionals
Medical expertise

Be aware of risks associated with common conditions and procedures and implement steps to predict or mitigate them
Medical expertise

Provide appropriate aftercare and arrange follow-up for all procedures
Medical expertise

Identify patients suitable for, and refer to, aged care, rehabilitation or palliative care programs
Professionalism

Deal with ethical uncertainty and conflicting values; maintain ethical standards
Scholarship and teaching

Use multi-disciplinary team meetings as teaching and educational opportunities

The JDocs website is an initiative of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.

The aim is to provide career guidance to junior doctors in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand during the early prevocational years.

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