Practice Based Small Group Learning

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Altoona Family Physicians is one of the first US Residencies to adopt the FMPE “Practice Based Small Group Learning” Program. This is a Canadian program designed to help physicians enhance their knowledge and integrate new information into their practices. Rather than a traditional didactic lecture format, the sessions focus on discussion of modules composed of authentic cases and evidence-based information. The participants also are encouraged to bring their own cases to discuss. The goal of the program is “to facilitate the transition from learning as part of a formal training program, to a commitment to self-directed CME,” which will assist our graduates throughout their professional careers. Altoona Family Physicians has been selected as one of very few US residency programs to offer this excellent program, so we are very proud to be able to extend this opportunity to our residents. For more information, sample modules and patient handouts please visit The Foundation for Medical Practice Education.

Practice-Based Small Group Learning

Goals and Objectives

Description:

This is a longitudinal curriculum taught during the noon conference series. Modules are obtained from The Foundation for Medical Practice Education, www.fmpe.org. This is a Canadian program designed to help physicians enhance their knowledge and integrate new information into their practices. Rather than a traditional didactic lecture format, the sessions focus on discussion of modules composed of authentic cases and evidence-based information. The participants also are encouraged to bring their own cases to discuss.

Overall goal:

The goal of the program is to facilitate the transition from learning as part of a formal training program, to a commitment to self-directed CME, which will assist our graduates throughout their professional careers.

Medical knowledge:

Residents must demonstrate knowledge of established and evolving biomedical, clinical, epidemiological and social-behavioral sciences, as well as the application of this knowledge to patient care. Residents are expected to:

Use the case discussions to build on their knowledge of the topics covered including the basic clinical information, as well as the background epidemiological information, and apply this newly gained knowledge to patient care in the office and/or hospital setting.

Practice Based Learning and Improvement:

Residents must demonstrate the ability to investigate and evaluate their care of patients, to appraise and assimilate scientific evidence, and to continuously improve patient care based on constant self-evaluation and life-long learning. Residents are expected to develop skills and habits to be able to meet the following goals:

	identify strengths, deficiencies, and limits in one’s knowledge and expertise;
	systematically analyze practice using quality improvement methods, and implement changes with the goal of practice improvement;

Objectives – residents are expected to:

	read the module cases and discussion and identify deficiencies in knowledge;
	analyze their own current practice for the topic of a given module and identify any differences from the evidence-based approach in the module;
	implement the improved evidence-based approach into their own practice, including use of any tools/patient education handouts or worksheets from the module as applicable;

Interpersonal and Communication Skills:

Residents must demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in the effective exchange of information and collaboration with patients, their families, and health professionals. Residents are expected to:

communicate medical information effectively in a peer group setting. Residents are expected to present coherent and relevant cases from their own practice pertinent to the module topic. Such presentations can confirm that current practice meets with evidence-based standards, highlight differences from standards and if so identify why the resident is practicing different standards, or bring up challenging cases where group discussion and exchange of information may help the resident with further management.

Systems-Based Practice:

Residents must demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger context and system of health care, as well as the ability to call effectively on other resources in the system to provide optimal health care. Residents are expected to:

assist the group facilitator with completion of the log sheet for each session. The log sheet asks the group to summarize the key points of the discussion, identify areas that were puzzling or confusing, as well as identify unresolved discussion points. It also enquires about whether the module content will persuade the participants to change their practice and if so in what way, as well as whether there are any perceived barriers to change. The log sheet is faxed back to The Foundation for Medical Practice Education. The authors use this information to improve future modules.

Understand how giving feedback is an important aspect of the learning activity, as the action of completing the log sheet helps the residents to clearly identify what they have learnt, and reinforces the concept of lifelong learning.