SOM Admissions

Technical Standards for UMMS

Communication

Students must be able to relate effectively and sensitively with patients of all genders, ages, races, life-styles, sexual orientations, and cultural backgrounds, and be able to convey a sense of compassion and empathy. A student must be able to communicate clearly with and observe patients in order to elicit information, accurately describe changes in mood, activity, and posture; and be able to perceive verbal as well as nonverbal communications. Communication includes not only speech but also reading and writing. Medical education presents exceptional challenges in the volume and breadth of required reading and the necessity to impart information to others. Students must be able to communicate quickly, effectively and efficiently in oral and written English with all members of the health care team. Specific requirements include but are not limited to the following abilities: communicating rapidly and clearly with the medical team on rounds; eliciting a thorough history from patients; and communicating complex findings in appropriate terms to patients and to various members of the health care team (fellow students, physicians, nurses aides, therapists, social workers, and others). Students must learn to recognize and promptly respond to emotional communications such as sadness, worry, agitation, and lack of comprehension of physician communication. Each student must be able to read and to record observations and plans legibly, efficiently and accurately in documents such as the patient record. Students must be able to prepare and communicate concise but complete summaries of individual encounters, including hospitalizations. Students must be able to complete forms according to directions in a complete and timely fashion.