In This Section

Judgement and clinical decision making

 

On this page

Definition of competency

To make informed and timely decisions regarding assessment, diagnosis, surgical management, follow-up, health maintenance and promotion by:

  • considering options
  • planning ahead
  • implementing and reviewing decisions.

Key clinical tasks and the workplace

The related key clinical tasks (KCT) have been designed to help you apply the Framework to your job. You can use these to obtain feedback on, and/or assessment of, your level of performance.

Select the PGY (1–3) tabs below to view the progression of the expected skills, knowledge and behaviours across the early postgraduate years.

 

  • PGY1
  • PGY 2
  • PGY 3
  • Identify significant clinical issues from history and examination.
  • Identify the common clinical conditions managed by the clinical unit and be fully conversant with the clinical knowledge, key decision-making points and issues that influence decisions within these conditions.
  • Make well-reasoned diagnosis for common problems with assistance from senior clinician.
  • Can explain indications, contraindications and risks involved in decision making regarding common procedures.
  • Can differentiate between available investigations by identifying their risks and benefits.
  • Use available evidence effectively and efficiently to inform clinical decision making.
  • Use basic algorithms and decision trees to manage common problems.
  • Following any error in clinical reasoning, reflect on own clinical reasoning process and learn from mistake.
  • Synthesise clinical information to generate a graded problem list, containing appropriate provisional diagnoses as part of the clinical reasoning process.
  • Recognise personal limitations and ensure appropriate supervision.

  • Identify and justify patient management options for common problems and conditions.
  • Able to explain processes of diagnostic reasoning.
  • Use mechanisms that minimise error, e.g. clinical checklists, Surgical Safety Checklist, handover protocols, unit protocols.
  • Review patients on a regular basis and make decisions based on their response to treatment.
  • Retrieve and use high-quality information from electronic sources for clinical decision making. Document decisions and reasons for same.
  • Select appropriate procedures, with involvement of senior clinicians and the patient.
  • Able to succinctly present the patient scenario and discuss management plan.
  • Implement the ISBAR approach of identification, description of case, clinical background, assessment and recommendation for discussion.
  • Recognise when advice and guidance is required in development of management plans.
  • Has awareness and acknowledges errors or omissions in own decision making.
  • Direct/oversee the request of diagnostic tests for common conditions.
  • Use investigation findings to refine diagnoses for common conditions.
  • Undertake continued timely reviews of patient progress and respond appropriately to any changes of condition.
  • Recognise when a management plan is failing and, where appropriate, seek senior input to devise an alternative plan.
  • Retrieve, comprehend and apply results of systematic reviews, clinical prediction rules, decision analysis and clinical practice guidelines.
  • Discuss imperfect management and reflect on one’s own clinical reasoning process.
  • Recognise instances of uncertainty and conflicting values, and able to alleviate their potential impact.
  • Plan the order of an operating list and discuss with consultant.
  • Able to explain decision making while performing a simple procedure.
  • Present case management reports on common cases to unit meeting.