Coaching Session:

Clinical Stations

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An overview of PACES marking system: 0 - 10 minutes

How to develop the right "frame of mind"

"I am a good, hard working doctor but still failing PACES" - Top 5 things you can do NOW to massively increase your chances of passing PACES

Devising YOUR Personal Development Plan to get through PACES in FIRST attempt - the Do's and Dont's

Presentation of clinical cases - How to master the "perfect technique" - The "30 second technique"

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Station 1: ( 25 minutes)

Respiratory station 

Common cases including Pulmonary Fibrosis, Pneumonectomy V Lobectomy, Dullness at Lung Base

The most common reasons why candidates struggle in this station

Specific examples of How to present a respiratory case and management of 5 most commonly encountered respiratory cases

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Abdominal station: (25 minutes)

The things you MUST know NOW 

Top 5 reasons of why doctors fail Abdominal station

How to tackle "scars", and organomegaly

Renal abdomen - Common pitfalls and how to avoid 

3 Techniques you MUST use to score full marks in Abdominal station

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Station 3: (25 minutes)

Cardiology station:

The "perfect" approach to examination and presentation 

Valvular heart disease and mechanical valves - top 4 reasons why doctors struggle

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Neurology station: (25 minutes)

Recognition of "pattern" - the key to success

Undesrtanding of fundamental concepts - Nerve Conduction studies, Parkinsons, Peripheral Neuroapthy, Upper V Lower Motor Neurone pathologies

Top 3 mistakes all doctors who fail Neurology station makes

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Coaching session:

Communication and History Stations

Communication skills station:

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Top 6 reasons why doctors fail in Communication station

What the examiners are looking for in a Satisfactory candidate - Practical tips on improving performance

How to MASTER the 7 Prototype scenarios encountered in MRCP PACES Communication station 

5 Fundamental principles of Medical Ethics and how to APPLY them in each scenario

Interactive discussion of all 7 Prototype scenarios with practical examples on how to tackle ANY communication station

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Interactive discussion of cases from each of the 7 prototype scenarios:

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1. Breaking Bad News: Cancers, Suspected cancers, Chronic Progressive Illness

2. DNAR discussion with the patient 

3. Explaining a Disease, Procedure or Treatment - issues around capacity, consent, self-discharge, autonomy, anxious patient, non-compliant patient 

4. Discussion with the Relative - confidentiality, DNAR with the relative, End of life, escalation of treatment, angry relative

5. PACES specific cases - HIV, TB, Epilepsy, Jehovah's witness

6. Adverse Events & errors - delayed/missed diagnosis, apology, follow up, reporting of SUI's, PALS, complaints procedure

7. Colleague - Alcohol issues, under-performing, difficult colleague, doctor in difficulty, moral/ethical/social dilemmas

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History Component of Station 2 and 5:

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Approach to constructing a Differential Diagnosis

What to do when "stuck" and no clue what the diagnosis is

How to negotiate ANY History taking scenario

Utilising time outside History station to your advantage - things you MUST do

How to get the MAXIMUM info out from the surrogate

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Top 5 History cases - Interactive discussion of Top 10 presentations

How to negotiate examiner's questions

MOST EFFECTIVELY utilising the 1 minute for reflection and 5 minutes outside the station

Top 5 reasons for failure in History station  

Debunk the MYTHS surrounding Talking stations