Learning takes place in clinical settings (wards, outpatient departments, ambulatory care clinics and emergency departments) and includes access to regular continuing professional development (CPD) sessions such as journal clubs, grand rounds, departmental meetings and research seminars provided for the ongoing education of medical staff.

An important element of training is the development of self-directed learning skills to enable trainees to keep up with and critically evaluate the rapid changes in current practice and scientific information. These skills form the basis of life long learning.

Specific Skills

• a thorough knowledge of the theory and practice of adult internal medicine;
  
• expertise in history taking, physical examination, diagnosis, therapeutics, rehabilitation and palliative care;
  
• the ability to identify clinical problems and develop strategies for their solution;
  
• the capacity to take responsibility for the total management of patients and their families;
  
• an ability to work as part of a multidisciplinary team, including the making of appropriate referrals to other health professionals and delegation to junior medical and other staff;
  
• expertise in efficient organisation of patient care, including discharge planning and effective communication with those having ongoing responsibility for the patient (general practitioners and other primary care providers);
  
• skills in collation and presentation of clinical information for peer learning;
  
• skills in critical appraisal and assessment of medical literature;
  
• an understanding of the importance and practical application of quality assurance (QA) to maintain clinical standards and improve efficiency;
  
• an understanding of applied professional standards of behaviour and ethics;
  
• communication skills, which should include the ability to communicate verbally and by written word with patients and relatives, and with other health professionals;
  
• management of common acute emergencies;
  
• ongoing management of patients;
  
• competence in resuscitation techniques, including the immediate management of cardio-respiratory arrest and acute life threatening illness;
  
• knowledge of the principles in pharmacology of drug delivery;
  
• knowledge and skills of acute and chronic pain relief;
  
• skills in preoperative and postoperative assessment;
  
• the ability to work as a member of a team;
  
• knowledge of basic medical ethics;
  
• understanding of the principles of audit and of self-assessment;
  
• basic understanding of health service management and health economics;
  
• knowledge of the value of computing both as a communication tool and as a tool for the collection of data and for literature searches; and
  
• skills in counselling patients and families.