Medical Professional (CORE)

Full course description

The heart of CORE-education consists of consultations (Simulated Patient Consultations, SPCs) with simulation patients (SPs). The three-year course offers a whole-task, semi-authentic learning environment in which students work on the complex integration of communication skills, medical knowledge, clinical skills and personal development while interacting with trained 'patients'. As a practical training, CORE is part of the programme Clinical Practice in the Line Medical Professional. From its nature, CORE facilitates the blending of the three longitudinal education lines: Medical Professional, Critical Professional and Professional & Personal Development.

Guided by designated CORE topics, their own learning goals, and dedicated CORE teachers, medical students start to acquire step by step skills for and understanding of effective human-centred medical encounters. CORE offers a safe learning environment in which students are allowed to make mistakes, and to work steadily on acquiring essential skills, such as exploring the Reason for Encounter, making summaries, and breaking bad news. Graduate students frequently have (too) high ambitions and expectations of themselves. They may take on more than they can handle in the desire to resemble an experienced doctor or to execute a 'perfect' medical encounter. Yet, there is no such thing as a perfect consultation. Learning consultation skills requires a lifelong process of acquiring, reflecting, adapting and polishing. CORE in the Bachelor is the beginning.

In the first year the focus lies primarily on becoming familiar with the first and second phase. With time and progress, the student can take on more topics to work on. At the end of the third year, a student should be able to perform a complete consultation on a simple medical problem following the three phases' structure with dedicated skills, simple breaking bad news and shared decision making.