Pre-Clerkship Web-Based Placement Requirements for US and UK

The following pre-clerkship courses are available on the SOM Sakai learning management system:

  1. Cultural Competency Course
  2. Communication Skills Course, Part A
  3. Emergency Medicine Course
  4. Infection control
  5. Covid Infection Control Course

Communication Skills Modules

This course consists of 42 modules and is split between two Sakai-based Communication Skills Sakai sites. Students starting clinical training must study and pass the first web-based modules 1-12 in the Communication Skills course, Part A to be eligible for clinical placement. The second Communication Skills course, Part B begins at the first rotation. Each clinical department has designated Communication Skills modules and corresponding quizzes to be an integral and required part of their rotation. Students will study the remaining Communication Skills, Part B modules throughout their clinical training, particularly as it relates to patients they see. Completing these Communication Skills courses (Part A and Part B) is a requirement for graduation. All course quizzes are available on the Sakai sites.  Students must earn a minimum score of 80% to pass.

Cultural Competency Course

This is a pre-placement course designed to increase awareness of the ways culture may affect your interaction with patients.  As healthcare disparities among cultural minority groups persist in our country, culturally and linguistically appropriate services are increasingly recognized as an important strategy for improving quality of care to diverse populations. This course will equip students with the knowledge, skills, and awareness to best serve all patients, regardless of cultural or linguistic background.

Infection Control Course

Infection control prevents or stops the spread of infections in healthcare settings. This course includes an overview of how infections spread, ways to prevent the spread of infections, and other recommendations to ensure student safety.

COVID Infection Control Course

This course provides information on what students rotating in facilities should be doing to identify, prepare, respond and care for respiratory virus such as the novel coronavirus. Students will learn how to identify a case once it occurs, and how to properly implement infection, prevention, and control measures to ensure there is no further transmission to self, healthcare workers and patients in the healthcare facility.

Overview of Web-based Courses

The details of the pre-clerkship requirements are found in this Manual under “I.c”. Each of the clerkship requirements are included in the curriculum of each clerkship in “IV”.