Curriculum Standards
Curriculum performance standards underpin all training and assessment. These standards document the skills, knowledge and behaviour that trainees must attain by the end of the vocational training program.
NOTICE OF CHANGES TO CURRICULUM STANDARDS (03 May 2013):
Three revised curriculum standards were implemented on 03 May 2013:
- Ophthalmic Basic Competencies and Knowledge (OBCK)
- Basics of Ophthalmic Surgery
- Clinical Ophthalmic Pharmacology and Emergency Medicine (COPEM).
Reviewing these curricula has also resulted in changes to some of the assessments – which will be relevant to trainees selected for the2014 and beyond (allowing for a six month notice period to networks and trainees):
- The Core Induction Assessment Record (Form 1A) has been revised, and will need to be completed and submitted to the College within 3 months of training commencing
- A new Wetlab Assessment Record (Form 1B) has been developed – which will also need to be completed and submitted in the first 3 months of training
- As is currently the case, newly selected trainees are required to pass the Clinical Ophthalmic Pharmacology and Emergency Medicine (COPEM) Module 1 on-line exam before training starts being accredited (covering educational elements 1–11 of the revised COPEM curriculum)
- Within the first three months of a trainee commencing accredited training, they also need to pass the COPEM Module 2 on-line exam (covering educational element 12 of the revised COPEM curriculum – on Ocular Emergencies).
To allow for the usual six month notice period to trainees and networks, the OBCK exam to be held at Sydney Eye Hospital on Friday 31 May 2013, will still be based on the former OBCK curricula. All trainees who have registered for this exam had been notified of this fact.
The revised OBCK curriculum – which replaces the former OBCK, Ophthalmic Instruments and Fundamentals curriculum standards – will form the basis of OBCK exams conducted in November 2013 and beyond.
There are curriculum standards for:
Social and Professional Responsibilities Standards
Induction Standards
Core Induction Assessment Record (Form 1A):
The Core Induction Assessment Record is designed to ensure that trainees are able to perform eye consultations, to ensure patient care and safety, in a manner appropriate to your level of skill and competency. This form is used to record a trainee’s achievement of these basic competencies during the first three months of training.
Form 1A Core Induction Standards Assessment May 2013
Basics of Ophthalmic Surgery Curriculum Standard:
The Basics of Ophthalmic Surgery curriculum standard outlines the surgical competencies and knowledge that trainees must master within the first 12 to 18 months of training, as well as the basics of ophthalmic surgery which a trainee ophthalmologist must attain in the wetlab, in preparation for their surgery on live patients.
Basics of Ophthalmic Surgery May 2013
Wetlab Assessment Record (Form 1B):
The Basic Ophthalmic Surgery: Wetlab Assessment Record is designed to optimise patient care and safety, by ensuring that trainees have gained the minimum required knowledge and competencies for performing basic ophthalmic surgical techniques.
This form is used to record a trainee’s achievement of the basic surgical competencies in a wetlab environment during the first three months of training.
Form 1B Wetlab Assessment Record May 2013
Ophthalmic Science Standards
The OS standards comprise four standards outlining knowledge that underpins theory and practice in ophthalmology. Trainees undertake ophthalmic science examinations prior to and during basic training. The OS standards are:
Anatomy
Clinical Ophthalmic Pharmacology & Emergency Medicine (COPEM)
COPEM Curriculum Standards May 2013
Optics
PhysiologyPhysiology Standard Oct 2012
The study guides referenced in the Physiology standard are available on Moodle
OBCK Standard
The Ophthalmic Basic Clinical Competencies and Knowledge (OBCK) curriculum standard outlines the clinical competencies and knowledge that trainees must master within the first 12 to 18 months of training.
Trainees are advised to ensure they follow the OBCK curriculum standard – which could be different in some places from examiner feedback on past exams – in preparing for the OBCK exams.
OBCK Curriculum Standards May 2013
Ophthalmic Pathology Standards
The Ophthalmic Pathology curriculum standards outline the knowledge that underpins theory and practice in general and clinical ophthalmic pathology. Trainees undertake the Ophthalmic Pathology exam in year three of the training program.
Ophthalmic_Pathology_Aug_2012.pdf
Clinical Standards
The Clinical Performance Standards should be studied in conjunction with the curriculum standards for OBCK and Basics of Ophthalmic Surgery.
The RANZCO Advanced Clinical Examination (RACE), which trainees undertake in year four of their training program, is based on the knowledge and competencies outlined in these standards.
Cornea and External Eye Disease
