Enhanced Skills Program: Sport & Exercise Medicine Spine Rotation Goals & Objectives

The goal of this 4-week rotation is to develop skills in efficient, evidence-based spine diagnosis, appropriate investigation, and management, and to become proficient at the post-operative care of common MSK surgery. This occurs through participation in in-patient MSK wards at Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, and in spine surgery clinics, working with advanced care spine practitioners and the spine surgeon.

For this rotation, please focus the evaluation on the following CanMEDs roles: Medical Expert, Communicator, and Professional. 

Please refer to Curriculum Map for more details

Medical Expert

By the end of this rotation, the resident will be able to:

1. Provide appropriate support for psychosocial needs in discharge home following orthopaedic surgery
2. Describe the typical presentations of the 4 patterns of mechanical low back pain
3. Recognize the yellow flags related to mechanical low back pain and how they impact prognosis in this clinical context
4. Refer low back pain appropriately, both in terms of when and to whom referral is made

Communicator

By the end of this rotation, the resident will be able to:

1. Exhibit effective and timely verbal and written communication skills, including: communicating with patients and families, verbal presentation of consultations, documentation and consult letters, and use of EMR systems.
2. Deliver clear and instructive feedback to patients and other relevant related parties around diagnosis, relevant etiological factors, other required investigations, and the potential risks and benefits of various management options.
3. Discuss the patient's beliefs, concerns, illness experience, and specifically focus on the patient's expectations in terms of pain relief and improved function.
4. Skillfully recognize and manage communication challenges, such as in the context of low back pain patients with yellow flags.

Collaborator

By the end of this rotation, the resident will be able to:

1. Participate effectively and appropriately in an interprofessional health care team
2. Demonstrate an understanding of the unique roles and skills of each allied health professional encountered

Leader

By the end of this rotation, the resident will be able to:

1. Demonstrate time management skills to reflect and balance priorities for patient care, sustainable practice, and personal life

Health advocate

By the end of this rotation, the resident will be able to:

1. Demonstrate knowledge about the resources available to MSK patients and their families through the wider health system

Scholar

By the end of this rotation, the resident will be able to:

1. Maintain and enhance professional activities through ongoing learning.

Professional

By the end of this rotation, the resident will be able to:

1. Demonstrate a commitment to patients and their families, as well as to their profes-sion and to society, through ethical practice.
2. Demonstrate insight into his/her limitations.
3. Be responsive to constructive feedback.
4. Exhibit proper professional behaviour (e.g. meeting deadlines and being punctual)
5. Maintains appropriate boundaries, including appropriate draping for a physical ex-amination and appropriate presentation of a case to a group in the presence of the patient.