After the first year of core modules, all of which need to be completed satisfactorily, the student may progress to the second year in which three SSMs (Special Study Modules) need to be completed which follow a particular course of study.
If the student wishes to obtain a full university degree a third year of study will be required which will combine a period of practical application and also personal research.
We propose to develop an academy for whole person medicine (or health care) which will train a wide variety of health care professionals, and carers, in the principles and practice of a whole-person approach to health.
This Academy will be a joint project involving WholeCare, Acorn, Burrswood and other medical and Church based institutions who care about the patient as a person and the development of a more appropriate model of the delivery of health care.
First suggestions are that this Academy will -
- Be avaliable for all health and social care workers as well as patients and carers wishing to practice a whole person approach to health care.
- Seek accreditation through an appropriate university department.
- Offer a one year Diploma course and a three year degree course, as well as the opportunity to undertake individual modules for personal study.
- Include a mixture of residential training, distance learning using the internet, small group tutorials and individual study.
- Include the training needed to confirm the competencies for relevant health care professional such as Spiritual Care Advisors.
We plan to start a one year pilot of the core modules starting in September 2009. People who would like to participate in this pilot are invited to contact us (e-mail to: drmikesheldon@aol.com).
The suggested core modules, which would occupy the first year, and which would be required for all students are as follows:
PROPOSED CORE MODULES |
MODULE |
INCLUDES |
| CM 01 World Views |
|
This module starts with a discussion of world views and beliefs and then includes:
Philosophy of medicine
History of the development of modern medical practice
Beliefs of patients and doctors
The Placebo effect |
| CM 02 Anthropology |
|
This module covers the study of anthropology as it applies to models of mankind used in health care and medical practice.
It includes:
Mind-Body problem
What is man?
Soul and Spirit |
| CM 03 Whole Model of man |
This module builds a whole person model of mankind and includes:
Body/mind/spirit
Definitions of spirituality
Place of religious practice |
| CM 04 Health |
This module explores the concept of health and includes:
Defnitions of health
Understanding illness
Disease, illness and sickness
Cultural differences |
| CM 05 Alternative models |
This module explores the different alternative models of health care delivery developed over the last three decades. It includes:
CAM - Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Deficiencies in the "Scientific Humanist" model of medicine
Critics - eg Ivan Illich
Narrative Medicine
Salutogenesis
Complexity Theory |
| CM 06 The healing relationship |
This module discusses the healing relationship between the patient and the therapist. It includes
Compassion
Competencies of a healing therapist
Advocacy
Providing hope and meaning |
CM 07 Team working |
This module emphasise the importance of an Integrated Health Care team and includes:
How to integrate the team members
Who are the team members
The patient and their carers as part of the team. |
| CM 08 Making a diagnosis |
This module explores the process of making a diagnosis and includes:
Patho-physiological model of diagnostics
Problem based diagnosis
Whole Person diagnoses |
| CM 09 The patient's experience |
This modules focusses on the patient's experience of illness and includes:
Hearing the patient's story
Healthy and unhealthy stories
Self Help groups
Providing the patient with tools to improve health
Empowering the patient |
| CM 10 Problems in delivery |
This module looks at "real life" in the NHS and explores the difficulties of providing whole person care - it includes:
Time management
Targets and priorities
Discordance between world views of patient and therapist
Ethics and professionalism
Patient's expectations
Education and beliefs
Chronic Disease
Death and dying |
| CM 11 ?? Personal Study |
|
The missing module
What have I left out?
This could be a personal study module where the student picks their own topic and produces a xxx word essay. |
| CM 12 Examples of good practice |
This modules explores some examples of good practice in the delivery of a whole person approach to health care and includes:
Burrswood
Listening skills and Acorn
Spritual Care Advisors in General Practice
Birmingham Community Mental Health - Spirituality and Care
Hospice care |
A seperate page exists to cover the second year Special Study Modules and also the requirements for the third year of a degree course
