Dear All

Thank you for participating in the session today.

In RRR we discussed:

• Raised Intrac Cranial Pressure: symptoms & signs
• Portal Hypertension – features
• Convulsion – anticonvulsants in newborn

Communication scenario was of a 14 year old admitted following RTA – after 14 hours in ICU pronounced Brain Dead. Task was to update parent and discuss Organ donation. Dr A took the hotseat with Dr V & Dr F with the Examiner hats and Dr U was very gentle role player. Dr A handled the scenario well covering the essential points. The examiners gave specific feedback with examples of what was said and how that would impact the marks obtained. Other members had pertinent questions.

There are some learning points:

• Use ‘Update you of child’s condition’ better than ‘have arranged this meeting’.
• Check Role player’s prior information before giving your ‘advice’ / ‘information’.
• “How is child X? or What have you been told so far?” Will save you time.
• Bad news – Just give it – then use PAUSE. 
• Wait for Role Player to come back with queries, concerns or questions.
• Respond appropriately to each – with in your ‘knowledge’ sphere / competence
• Refer to ‘specialist’ for help & advice if you do not know.
• Being a time keeper made a member aware of how time was spent
• Where time could be saved by curtailing information being given.
• Do not repeat ‘I am sorry’ – ‘I understand’. Once is usually enough.
• Rapport building: be Polite – Clear – & – Precise.

Please visit www.mrcpchonline.org to add your comments or points I may have missed.

Anil Garg