The High Clinic: a pilot project of a new model for an outpatient, community-based teaching clinic in rheumatology

The objectives were to develop an outpatient, community-based clinical education experience for second-year rheumatology fellows based on sound education principles, and to pilot the program to test its practicability and assess student perception of its educational efficacy. The outpatient clinical education experience consisted of four steps. In Step 1 second-year rheumatology fellows assessed patients and reviewed their cases with two supervisors. Step 2 entailed each fellow presenting a brief summary of each case to their colleagues and supervisors for discussion and analysis of learning issues. In Step 3 each fellow conducted a literature search of the learning issues identified in Step 2. Step 4 occurred in the days following the clinic and entailed a seminar discussion of the literature search results with fellow colleagues. At the end of this outpatient clinical education program, questionnaires were given to participating fellows to assess its effectiveness. All participants judged this new clinical education program to be practical and effective; outcomes were positive for all skills specified as objectives for the clinic. This model of outpatient community-based clinical teaching, named 'The High Clinic' is a new and effective model for a teaching clinic in rheumatology, featuring augmented patient exposure, increased interactions with supervisors and a case-based learning. The pilot test of the clinic was implemented successfully. Participants in the clinic were satisfied with their achievement of stated objectives. This model is applicable to other specialties. Practice points *This outpatient, community-based clinical education experience, based on sound education principles, features augmented patient exposure, increased interactions with supervisors and case-based learning. *A task-based, student-centered, community-based approach is an effective educational model in rheumatology and is applicable to other specialties.