Postgraduate Diploma in Family Medicine

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Outline:

1. The programme is designed specifically for Primary Care Physicians to build on your existing knowledge, skills and experience and develop mastery in the clinical and service aspects of Family Medicine.
2. The Rila Institute of Health Sciences administers the programme, which is validated by Middlesex University
3. This means that when you successfully complete all parts of the programme, you will receive the Middlesex University qualification of a Postgraduate Certificate or Postgraduate Diploma in Family Medicine, and may, if you wish, attend the graduation ceremony.
4. You will enrol as a student of the Rila Institute of Health Sciences and will be registered with the University.
5. Should you not complete the full programme, then you will be provided with a transcript recording the individual elements of the programme successfully completed.

General information:

1. Rila Institute of Health Sciences has developed a Postgraduate Certificate and Diploma in Family Medicine to be offered to students from UK and overseas.
2. The programme has been designed specifically for primary care physicians wishing to gain experience in the management of clinical and service aspects of Family Medicine.
3. The course runs over approximately 6 months for the Postgraduate Certificate and approximately 10 to 11 months for the Postgraduate Diploma. For exact course dates and locations please check website.
4. The course integrates several components of learning. There are reading topics available on-line. Understanding of these core topics is assessed through a series of online Higher Order Thinking Questions.
5. The reading topics i.e. resource learning material, which are specifically commissioned by Rila Institute of Health Sciences, cover the essential elements in developing core knowledge and skills in Family Medicine.
6. A 1-2 day workshops/lectures is held at the start of the course in the international regional centre, but usually in the UK. This is structured to include lectures and workshops relevant to developing a sound basis for Family Medicine.
7. A number of workshops/lectures will also be held during the course.
8. Assessment is partly by continuous assessment of the reading topics and mini-tests, both carried out on line. There will also be a final examination held in the international regional centre or UK.

Structure of the Postgraduate Certificate and Postgraduate Diploma:

1. There are 3 modules, Modules 1 & 2 comprise the Postgraduate Certificate award and Modules 1, 2 & 3 the Postgraduate Diploma level award.
2. In each period of 5-7 days a particular topic (detailed in the programme calendar) is studied by way of a specially written article. Each topic is assessed by way of Higher Order Thinking Questions, for which there is a deadline date. A number of timed mini-exams are conducted online, and the student is strongly recommended to participate in this activity.
3. There is a 1-2 day workshop/lecture, held in the international regional centre at the start of the each programme. This will provide tutorials, lectures and practical demonstrations.
4. You will also have an opportunity to meet other doctors on the course and medical staff from the UK and overseas.
5. There is a usually workshops during the course, depending on your programme of study and a final examination held at the international center or in UK.
6. You will be expected to participate in the online clinical activity. For those following the Diploma this activity, mainly in Module 3, will be graded by the online facilitator. You must attain a “satisfactory” grade.

Course Syllabus

Postgraduate Certificate comprises Modules 1 & 2

Postgraduate Diploma comprises Modules 1, 2 and 3

Module 1: Core generic knowledge & skills

• Receiving & welcoming patients
• Medico-legal and ethical issues
• How to read a scientific paper
• Determinants of health
• Lifestyle factors in health
• Identification of risk factors
• Nutrition and health
• Breaking bad news.
• Teaching & Mentoring

Module 2: Advances in Family Medicine

• Topics include:
• Systems assessments (cardiovascular, respiratory, abdomen, neurology, ophthalmology, ENT, musculoskeletal medicine, dermatology, male and female genitourinary), communicable diseases, screening, sexual health, emergencies (general principles, common emergencies, ABCD symptoms, dangerous diagnoses and urgent mental health), Tropical medicine (general tropical diseases, diarrhoea, oral rehydration and malnutrition), Chronic diseases (hypertension, diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, respiratory disease, chronic kidney disease, palliative care, HIV/Blood Borne Viruses and Care of the older person), antenatal care, family planning, breast feeding, postnatal depression, childhood illnesses, childhood development, immunisation, child protection young people’s health, mental health promotion and diagnosis, depression, alcohol and substance misuse, severe mental health, dual diagnosis, learning disabilities, neuroses and stress

Module 3: Clinical Practice in Family Medicine

Clinical skills related to the following:

• Auriscope.
• Ophthalmoscope
• Sphygmomanometer
• Stethoscope
• Foetal stethoscope and/or ‘Sonicaid’
• Patella hammer
• Thermometer
• Tuning fork.
• Visual acuity and colour tests
• Proctoscope
• Vaginal speculum
• Cardio-pulmonary resuscitation including use of a defibrillator
• Controlling a haemorrhage
• Venepuncture
• • Giving intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous or intradermal injections including via a syringe driver
• • Performing and interpreting an electrocardiogram
• • Performing basic respiratory function tests
• • Administering oxygen safely
• • Use of a nebuliser
• • Near patient testing e.g. urinalysis
• • Removal of ear wax
• • Passing a urinary catheter
• • Performing a cervical smear
• • Collecting other relevant samples including endocervical or per-nasal swabs

Course Map

Postgraduate Certificate

Postgraduate Certificate Course Map

Postgraduate Diploma

Postgraduate Diploma Course map

Time allocation for the Postgraduate Certificate and Postgraduate Diploma:

• Approximately one half to one full day a week is recommended as being the suggested allocation time for the each of the programmes.

Minimum Requirements for the web learning aspects:

1. A specific area of the Rila Institute of Health Sciences website is dedicated to the Postgraduate Certificate and Postgraduate Diploma in Family Medicine.
2. You will be issued with a user name and password.
3. You MUST have computer access to the internet and it will be your responsibility to ensure that this is the case.
4. The website will provide facilities such as Forums, a Bulletin Board, On-Line Chat Room etc.
5. You will be provided with information on how to use the web site.

Admission criteria:

Participants admitted to this programme will need to meet following criteria:

• Be in possession of an MBBS or an equivalent medical degree from a WHO recognised institution
• If the medical degree or other undergraduate qualification was not taught in the English language, a score of 6.5 in the British Council IELTS test (including a score of 5.5 or better in the written component), or equivalent qualification, will usually be required.
• Be in full or part time medical practice.
• Provide a satisfactory reference from a senior health care practitioner with knowledge of your work, such as a line manager, confirming your suitability to join the programme

Award of the Postgraduate Certificate and Postgraduate Diploma:

1. You are strongly recommended to complete the formative assessments related to each topic and the mini online exams. Try and attain at least 50% marks.
2. The final examination, to be held in the central location, is mandatory for all students.
3. The final examination MUST be passed, for the Certificate (Modules 1 and 2) or Diploma (Modules 1, 2 and 3) to be awarded.
4. The final examination consists of a paper based format of Higher Order Thinking Assessments (Single Best Option, Extended Matching Questions, and Clinical Quiz).
5. The examiners are consultants and an external examiner(s) are appointed by Middlesex University.
6. A failure of a re-sit in the final examination, results in the student being unable to be awarded the Certificate or the Diploma. The student will have to re-register for the course. A re-sit for the final examination requires an additional fee payment. For further details click here.

Recognition of the Certificate and Diploma:

1. You, as a Medical Practitioner, with the Certificate or Diploma, will have greater confidence and knowledge to better manage your patients.
2. Furthermore, you, as a Medical Practitioner will be further recognized and appreciated, by clinical colleagues, as having a special interest in Family Medicine.
3. The Postgraduate Certificate and Diploma are academic qualifications.

Accreditation

The Certificate and Diploma are accredited/validated as follows:

1. Validated by Middlesex University, London – awarding institution
2. Endorsed by the National Association for Primary Care, London

Organisations involved

1. Middlesex University, London with whom the candidates are registered and who control the quality assurance and the award of the final diploma.
2. UK based specialists in Family Medicine, provide the content, curriculum and clinical guidance, and host the final examination.
3. Rila Institute of Health Sciences, London, which is a collaborative organisation of the University, provides all administrative and logistical support to the course.

If you have any questions, then upon request, our enrolment advisor will contact you with help and/or assistance with your application.

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