Medical Education in 2020: Developing COVID Secure Undergraduate Hospital Placements
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COMMENTARY
Medical Education in 2020: Developing COVID Secure Undergraduate Hospital Placements Joshua Caplan 1,2 Abhishek Rao 1
&
Rachel Clements 1,3 & Christopher Chadwick 1 & Joshan Kadirgamar 1 & Jacqueline Morgan 1 &
Accepted: 2 September 2020 # International Association of Medical Science Educators 2020
Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic is the greatest challenge the National Health Service (NHS) has faced since its inception. The NHS has adapted quickly to reconfigure services in response to evolving circumstances; however, the status of undergraduate medical education in the UK remains unclear. Clinical placements were curtailed in early Spring at the peak of the UK pandemic, but are planned to restart in the new academic year (September 2020). As hospitals begin their recovery phases with the restarting of elective work and other key services, medical educators must consider how best to provide high-quality teaching to the next cohort of clinicalbased medical students. Government guidelines advise good hand hygiene and social distancing as two key methods of minimising COVID-19 infection and transmission [1]. At the time of writing, the use of facemasks in situations where social distancing cannot be maintained, such as on public transport or indoor workspaces, has also been advised. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends social distancing at a physical distance of one metre [2], which is followed in countries such as France, Singapore and China [3]. The UK government has opted instead for a two-metre social distancing rule, or if not possible, one metre plus other precautions [4]. There may be further relaxation of these restrictions over the coming
* Joshua Caplan [email protected] 1
Clinical Teaching Fellow, Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust, West Bromwich, UK
2
Postgraduate Centre, City Hospital, Dudley Road, Birmingham B18 7QH, UK
3
Academic Foundation Year 2 Doctor, West Midlands Deanery, UK
months; nonetheless, social distancing measures are likely to remain in place until the end of 2020 [5]. For close personal contact with patients where aerosol-generating procedures are taking place, full-body personal protective equipment (PPE) including respiratory protective equipment (RPE), a longsleeved disposable gown, eye protection and gloves are required [6]. For non-aerosol-generating procedures, minimum PPE consists of a disposable apron, facemask, gloves and eye protection (if required) [7]. The sourcing of vast quantities of PPE and the logistics of organising teaching to comply with social distancing regulations poses a significant challenge to undergraduate medical education for the foreseeable future and any planning must take these factors into account. The UK Medical Schools Council (UKMSC) released a statement on 1 May, acknowledging the challenge that restarting clinical placements brings, whilst emphasising the importance of students continuing to progress through medical school. This is essential to ensure continued flow of new doctors into the healthca
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