Communication … The Good & The Bad ….

Thank you for participating in the session today and making it so interesting and informative.

We covered two scenarios today: NAI 2.5 yrs old and Febrile convulsion 1 year old – may seem like a repeat to some.

Vidisha acted as the role player in both scenarios and we had Dr Aloke do a good doctor job and a not so good doctor job on the two scenarios.

The execution of the scenarios was excellent with all the salient points an examiner will be looking for while marking your communication station.I was really pleased by the keen observations of the participants who picked up the positive points in the good doctor performance and all the negative points in the bad doctor performance:

Introduction / rapport building / empathy / body language on Zoom Video! besides actual spoken words.


Learning points:

  • Non Accidental Injury – how to present – use ‘Safe guarding’ vs ‘NAI’
  • Do NOT accuse – it is about child’s safety and working with family
  • Read the task carefully
  • 2 minute rule by Shishir: PLAN FIRST 2 MINUTES ONLY OF CONSULTATION WHILE WAITING.
  • There after respond to the role player.
  • Do not try and work out the whole scenario as you will focus on agenda and not Role player.
  • Vital to try and stay on the same page as the role player.

Add and points I may have missed or comments.

Session on 22 September – Tuesday will be at 6:00 – 7:00 pm UK time.

Anil Garg

COMMENTS

New Interactive Zoom session

We are planning to start another Interactive session on Tuesday at 6:00-7:00 pm UK time soon to assist in preparation of the Exam in November.

This is to facilitate our participants in UK, Ireland, Canada & Switzerland who find 4:00-5:00 pm UK time not very helpful with work schedules.

Please send a note if you will like to know more.

Communication Station – 2 scenarios

Thank you for participating in the session on communication.

I took the plunge and attempted the scenario which we had discussed previously of a newborn baby who is noted to be dusky at four hours and the clinical assessment is that he may have a cyanotic heart disease likely to be transposition of the great arteries. Dr Tamal was and excellent role player and did get across his anxiety very well. He was however, satisfied in the end.


The second scenario we did was of a one-year-old admitted following a febrile convulsion due to otitis media. The following morning during the ward round he was felt to be better and fit for discharge. However his father who had just arrived, was not happy with the medical decision and wanted the child to have a CT scan as he had found on Google. Maria was an excellent role player but technology did let us down in getting a clear understanding of communication between role player & candidate.


Learning points:

  • Ensure you have Good internet connection.
  • Vitally so as you can opt to take the exam from home now.
  • Technology failures on your end are unlikely to get sympathy from RCPCH – I am guessing.
  • “Will the child die?” is a common question – practice how to respond satisfactorily to it.
  • No medication can completely eliminate the chances of future convulsions
  • Tepid sponging / Cooling – can be different in context of different countries / climates
  • After introductions – keep QUIET and give parent /RP chance to get across everything they want to say – DO NOT interrupt.
  • This will also give you information of their prior knowledge.
  • Then pick up salient points – from THEIR perspective and address them

Add your comments or points I may have missed.

Video recording of the sessions are available to participants.
Anil Garg

Comment

Autumn course

We have received tremendous support from you all and have filled all our seats – 14 in total – for the Interactive Zoom Sessions. We limit the number so as to be able to provide individual attention to each participant.

Our online modules on Communication, History & Management, Video, Development and Clinical stations are available.

For Interactive Zoom sessions we have a waiting list and will consider a second session to start soon. Please register your interest.

Anil Garg

Communication – Do’s & Don’ts. 4 hour old dusky baby

We started with a PowerPoint presentation on communication station, what it entails, where the marks are, the do’s and don’ts.


This was followed by a scenario of talking with parents of a new born baby, 4 hours old, noted to be dusky, clinical examination suggestive of Transposition of Great Arteries (TGA).

Task was to discuss your concern with parents and answer their queries and address their worries and concerns. Misbah, Anish and Tamal did the role play and hot seat.

The learning points were:

  • Read the information given VERY CAREFULLY.
  • Do not assume information not written.
  • Anxious parents – clearly elicit their concerns first before ‘jumping’ in with your ‘plan’
  • Go about in a systematic manner in establishing diagnosis
  • Remain clam, take 5 seconds to collect your thoughts and then reply if not sure
  • remember to visualise: WHAT I WOULD NORMALLY DO.
  • Dusky babies are not normally time critical transfers hence be systematic.

Add any point I may have missed or to add your comment.


Video of the session will be available in for 2 weeks – if you could not attend or wish to review.
Anil Garg