3rd Year
The Family Medicine Clerkship is centered on learning office-based primary care in a community practice. Through the lottery (second year) students will be assigned to either a rural community in Ontario or a community practice in Ottawa. The rural rotations are organized through our closest rural network, the Eastern Regional Medical Education Program (ERMEP), who takes care of all the details including lodging. As well two students from each block can choose to work with a different rural network in Ontario (ROMP or NOSM).
Rotation outline
Phase 1 - Week One & Two: Everyone will be attending virtual learning modules and workshops. You will not be attending a clinic/office. Details on exact schedules will be available closer to the beginning of the rotation.
Phase 2 - Weeks Three to Six: Everyone will spend all of this time with their assigned preceptor either in Ottawa (community) or in a rural site. The expectation is that the student would experience the full scope of their preceptor practice which could include hospital call, nursing home care, emergency room shifts, deliveries, etc. Details on exact schedules will be available closer to the beginning of the rotation.
Important Documents and Resources
Absenteeism and Professionalism
If you are unable to attend your clinic or nursing home visit for any reason, you must notify the following individuals immediately:
- Denis Vadeboncoeur: medyear3@uottawa.ca
- Donna Williams: ugfmclerk@uottawa.ca or 613-562-5800 ext 6477
- Your clinic preceptor (if you will not be attending clinic)
- Your Interprofessional Education Team/Allied Healthcare Provider Visits (if you will not be attending your visit)
Exams
- Exam dates are set by the Faculty at the end of a 12 week block.
- Your exam will be based on the learning objectives. The objectives and a copy of the exam blueprint can be found in your handouts as well as links on one45 and the DFM website.
- Please remember that you are not to book off clinical time to study for your final exam.
- If you must travel three hours or more from your placement to the Faculty, you are permitted to leave your placement at noon on the Thursday. If you are travelling from Moose Factory, you should leave on the Wednesday of Week 6.
- Please remember: once you enter the exam room, talking is not permitted. This is a University Policy.
FM Observation of Clinical Skills Forms
- Students must complete two mandatory Observation of Clinical Skills forms. This is a Faculty of Medicine requirement. It is your responsibility to ensure that your preceptor completes the forms.
- These forms were sent to you in your orientation package email and can also be found in your handouts as well as links on one45.
- Submit your completed forms to the attention of Donna Williams no later than Sunday night of Week 6:
- By email: ugfmclerk@uottawa.ca
Clinical Encounters – One45 Logs
- At least 50% of your Clinical Encounters Problems and 50% of your Clinical Encounters Procedures should be completed by the mid-rotation evaluation.
- 100% of your Clinical Encounters Problems and Procedures must be completed by the last Sunday of your rotation.
- If you feel your objectives will not be met by the end of Week 3, please notify Donna Williams at ugfmclerk@uottawa.ca to discuss an action plan.
- Failure to complete your Clinical Encounters as above will be marked on your FM evaluation as a professionalism concern.
Nomination for Outstanding Clinical Performance Award
- The Faculty of Medicine awards this honour to 15-20% of the top students per rotation.
- Two to three students per rotation group will be nominated. The final decision will be made by the Family Medicine Clerkship Director.
Learning Modules
- Learning modules are mandatory to attend. The schedule was sent to you with your orientation package and is included on your one45 schedule. Any schedule or location changes are made directly to your one45 calendar. Please check this daily.
- Be sure to sign in and enter the time on the attendance sheet. If you miss any of the modules (including approved absences) or are ≥ 10 minutes late, you will be required to complete a 500 word summary on each module missed.
- These summaries are due by the end of the third day of the missed learning module
- If you miss more than one module, all summaries are due within five business days
- Send your summaries to Donna Williams by email at ugfmclerk@uottawa.ca.
- Prepare ahead by reading the materials related to each objective. This information is available on the Department of Family Medicine Website and can also be found in your handouts and links on one45.
- Don't forget to complete the Learning Module Evaluation which will be sent to you after each session. These need to be completed by the end of Week 3 of your rotation.
General Information - Family Medicine Suggested Readings
Abdominal Pain
Arthritis/Joint Pain
Dementia
- Problem Assisted Learning – Dementia
- Dementia Clerkship Talk
- Going Home: A short film on dementia
- No Thanks, We’re Fine: Supporting Families Living with Dementia
- The Mini-Mental State Exam
- The Montreal Cognitive Assessment tool
- CMAJ: Diagnosis of Dementia
- CMAJ: Risk assessment and primary prevention of Alzheimer disease
- CMAJ: Approach to management of mild to moderate dementia
- CMAJ: Mild cognitive impairment and cognitive impairment without dementia
Diabetes
Dyspnea
Fatigue
Headache
Hypertension
Interprofessional Education Mindfulness
Palliative Care Preventative Medicine Smoking Cessation