Medicine in the Community (MiC)

All students spend around one full day per month (either Monday, Tuesday or Friday) in a GP practice, learning Medicine in the Community in groups of 2-6.

There are 10 days (20 sessions) during the year. Some practices may choose to teach three groups of students, i.e. on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays.

Aims of MIC Programme:

To teach fourth year (1st clinical year) students clinical method in a general practice setting, in order to complement their hospital-based teaching
To focus on general medical topics, including investigations and management
To build on students' knowledge and skills, as they develop through the year

The key Objectives:

To practice core clinical skills with an emphasis on cardiovascular, respiratory, GI and loco-motor systems
To develop communication and clinical skills
To diagnose and manage common clinical problems
To develop attitudes appropriate to being a good doctor
To develop an understanding of ethical and legal issues involved
To develop an understanding of the involvement of Primary and Secondary Care services for patients, and the interface between them.

Student Information

Organisation of Medicine in the Community

In groups of 2-6, you will spend approximately one full day per month (either Monday, Tuesday or Friday) in a GP practice. There are 10 teaching days (20 sessions) during the year, and your teaching will be linked to your hospital firms.

Attendance at community placements

Please note that attendance of all community-based teaching is compulsory, and will be monitored as part of your firm assessment.

Patients are usually asked especially to attend for your teaching sessions so, if for any reason you are unable to attend for any teaching, it is essential that you let the following people know as soon as possible:

The practice that is expecting you
PCPH Team at pcphmeded@ucl.ac.uk
complete the absence form

Any queries?

If you have any questions about Medicine in the Community GP placements, please contact pcphmeded@ucl.ac.uk

For further information, students should refer to the following:

- MBBS Year 4 Course Information - Integrated Clinical Care

General:
- History and Examination Guide

ECG:
- ECG Library

Radiology:
- Chest X-ray

Heart and Lung sounds:
- 3M website - examples of heart and lung sounds
- The Auscultation Assistant (UCLA) - heart murmurs and breath sounds
- R.A.L.E.® Repository - respiratory sounds

GP Tutor Information

Teaching methods

Teaching is in protected time and should include the following:

clerking followed by discussion and feedback
observed history and examination in small groups
brief topic-based tutorials and case/topic presentations linked to real patients and basic science.

Example topics: chest pain, shortness of breath, cough, epigastric pain, hypertension, ischaemic heart disease, heart failure, COPD, asthma, risk reduction, bowel disorders, and diabetes.

Attendance

Attendance of General Practice placements is compulsory. Students are told that should exceptional circumstances arise and they are unable to attend a placement, they should immediately inform the practice that is expecting them, and contact pcphmeded@ucl.ac.uk

If a student fails to attend without prior warning, please inform pcphmeded@ucl.ac.uk as soon as possible.

It is not considered appropriate for students who are suddenly unwell, or unfit to attend, to inform you of this via another student. If this happens, please let us know.

Concerns about students:

If you have any concerns of a pastoral or educational nature about any students, please contact pcphmeded@ucl.ac.uk

Any queries?

If you have any questions about MIC GP placements, please contact pcphmeded@ucl.ac.uk