Stroke Management

Outline

1. The programme is designed specifically for Primary Care Physicians and Nurses with an Interest in caring for patients suffering a Stroke and wishing to gain experience in the management of such patients.
2. The Rila Institute of Health Sciences administers the programme, which is accredited by the UK Forum for Stroke Training (UKFST) and was developed under the auspices of the London Cardiac & Stroke Network.
3. This means that when you successfully complete all parts of the programme, you will have an accredited qualification which is recognised by employers and healthcare organisations.
4. You will enrol as a student of the Rila Institute of Health Sciences.
5. When you have successfully completed the full programme you will be provided with a “Certificate”, and a Transcript indicating your achievement. Those individuals who do not complete the full programme will be given transcripts of the elements that they have successfully completed.
6. The programme is delivered by experts in the field of managing patients with stroke and will include Stroke Physicians, GPs with a Special Interest in Stroke, Nurses in Stroke care and other Allied Health Professionals such as Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists.
7. The quality and standards are monitored by a core programme team overseen by a Programme Director.

General information:

1. The NHS London Cardiac and Stroke Networks have developed, in conjunction with the Rila Institute of Health Sciences, the “Stroke Management Programme”, which is open to students from UK and overseas.
2. The programme has been designed specifically for primary care physicians and nurses involved in caring for patients suffering a stroke.
3. The Course runs over approximately 14 weeks, providing a structured and blended form of learning, divided into 3 modules.
4. The course integrates several components of learning. There are up to 14 reading topics, available on line. Understanding of these core topics is assessed through a series of Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), completed online.
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 in the management of patients suffering a stroke.
6. A 2 day workshop/lecture meeting is held at the start of the course. These are structured to include lectures and workshops relevant to developing a sound basis for managing patients with stroke.
7. There is an additional day of workshops around the midpoint of the programme.
8. You are encouraged, if possible, to engage in doing some sessions with a local supervisor/mentor with a Specialist interest in Stroke. This is likely to be an consultant in the local Stroke Unit
9. Assessment is partly by continuous assessment of the reading topics and mini-tests, both carried out online. There is also be a final summative examination.

Structure of the Stroke Management Course:

1. There are 3 modules, which are spread over ~14 weeks, excluding holidays and breaks. This means the duration of the programme is approximately 3.5 months.
2. In each period of a week a particular topic (detailed in the programme calendar) is studied by way of a specially written article. Each topic is assessed by way of MCQs, for which there is a deadline date. These are not timed. A number of mini exams must also be completed online and these are time dependent.
3. There is a 2 day workshop/lecture meeting, held in London at the start of the programme. This will provide tutorials, lectures and practical demonstrations.
4. You will also have an opportunity to meet other healthcare professionals on the course and teaching and administrative staff.
5. There is a further single day workshop around the middle of the programme and a final examination, at the end of the programme, will be held in London.
6. If you are able to engage in any clinical sessions with local stroke specialists this can be recorded in the “Clinical Skills Booklet.”

Course Syllabus

Module 1

1. Anatomy & pathophysiology of stroke
2. Stroke: an overview for primary care
3. Transient ischaemic attacks
4. Neurological imaging

Module 2

1. Investigations of the causes of stroke
2. Cardiovascular causes of stroke
3. Rare causes of stroke and stroke mimics
4. Management of risk factors and prevention in stroke
5. Pharmacological treatment: primary and secondary prevention of stroke
6. Rehabilitation in stroke

Module 3

1. Cognitive and psychological aspects of stroke care
2. Late and long-term complications after stroke
3. Patient and carer resources and information
4. A stroke service model (London)

Course Map

• The final “Certificate” is awarded only to those who have demonstrated regular study and have achieved a high level of understanding, knowledge and clinical expertise. You must also successfully complete all tests and final examination.
• Approximately a half to one day a week is recommended as being the suggested allocation time for the programme.

Minimum Requirements for the web learning aspects:

• A specific area of the Rila Institute of Health Sciences website is dedicated to the Stroke Management Programme.
• You will be issued with a user name and password.
• You MUST have computer access to the internet and it will be your responsibility to ensure that this is the case.
• The website will provide facilities such as Forums, a Bulletin Board, On-Line Chat Room etc.
• You will be provided with information on how to use the web site.

Admission Criteria

• Students admitted to this programme must be in possession of an MBBS or equivalent medical degree recognised by WHO.
• Registered Nurses with at least one year post-registration experience. It would be useful to have had some experience in the management of patients suffering a stroke.
• All participants must be in active clinical practice.

Student Eligibility

1. The Stroke Management programme is open to UK and non – UK based clinicians who hold a medical degree or a registered nurse.
2. Evidence of this qualification MUST be sent with the application form either as original copy or a photocopy plus an attestation from the awarding medical school.
3. Some previous experience of Care of the Older Patient, Geriatric Medicine or work in a Stroke Unit would be beneficial but is not essential.
4. Non-UK candidates must provide evidence, either by way of a formal qualification such as IELTS (International English Language Testing System) or TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language). This requirement may be waived if the candidate has used the English medium in his/her basic degree, but written confirmation of this will be necessary.
5. You must be able to provide all the information on the application form, including a suitable medical practitioner or senior healthcare official to write your referee’s report.

Award of the “Certificate” in Stroke Management”.

1. Each Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) assessment MUST be passed at the minimum 50% correct answers. This includes the individual topic assessments as well as the online mini-exams.
2. The final summative examination, held in the central location, must be successfully passed, in order for the award to be made.
3. The final summative examination,, which is paper based, is a format similar to the topic and mini exams held during the course but will cover the whole syllabus. The question format includes, Single Best Option, Extended Matching

Questions, and Clinical Quizzes.

1. The examiners are specialists in Stroke Management, including consultants, GPs and Nurses.
2. An unsatisfactory performance in any element of formative assessment i.e. topic assessment or mini exam, including 2 re-sit, results in the student being unable to follow the course.
3. Similarly, the student is permitted only 2 re-sits in the final summative examination. A re-sit examination requires an additional fee payment.

Recognition and value of the Certificate in Stroke management:

1. The Stroke management programme has been accredited by the UK Forum for Stroke Training and is supported as a training course by the London Cardiac and Stroke networks.
2. As a Healthcare Professional will have greater confidence and knowledge to better manage your patients.
3. As a Healthcare professional, with an accredited qualification, you will be recognised and appreciated, by clinical colleagues, as having a special interest and skills in managing stroke patients.

Accreditation

The Programme is accredited and recognised as follows:

• Accredited by the UK Forum for Stroke Training (QM0052)
• Endorsed and approved by the NHS London Cardiac and Stroke Networks

Collaborating Organisations and Individuals

• The UK Forum for Stroke Training
• The NHS London and Cardiac Stroke Networks
• UK based specialists in Stroke management, provide the content, curriculum and clinical guidance, and ensure quality.
• Rila Institute of Health Sciences, London

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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