Urology Sub-Internship Core Competencies
1) Communication
a. University of Colorado students will participate in a standardized patient scenario in which
the student will deliver bad news to the patient and be graded by the standardized patient.
2) Systems Based Practice
a. Students will be involved in any multidisciplinary discharge planning of urology patients
b. Students will participate in the sign out process between interns in the morning and in the
evening.
c. Students will identify a medical error that occurs during their rotation and will fill out a form
that describes the error, the cause, and some solutions. This must be turned into Kathy
Politis or Dr Higuchi the third Friday of the rotation.
3) Practice Based Improvement
a. Each student will give a 30 minute presentation on a urology topic of your choice at Urology
Grand Rounds. You should use evidence-based medicine to support the topic. I would
highly recommend you choose your topic early and select a topic that is not too broad and
focuses on area that sparked your interest during your sub-internship. For example don’t
choose testicular cancer as a topic because this is far too broad and you will not have enough
time during your presentation to complete this topic. Instead, you could choose growing
teratoma syndrome or PET scan for non-seminomatous germ cell tumors. You can also try
to incorporate AUA/EUA guidelines. Lastly, it is highly recommend that you DO NOT
reuse presentations from previous sub internships. This is your time to learn about a new
topic and demonstrate your data gathering, knowledge of the literature and presentation
skills.
b. Dr. Higuchi will meet with each student and provide feedback half-way though their rotation
and will note demonstration of improved performance based on their feedback.
4) Medical Knowledge
a. At the end of the rotation the student should have a working knowledge of the main areas of
stone disease, BPH, PSA, prostate cancer, bladder cancer, kidney cancer, undescended
testicles/pediatric hernias, hematuria evaluation and their medical and surgical management
where appropriate. They will gain this knowledge through independent reading, observation
of surgeries, and encounters with patients in clinic, to include history taking and physical
exams.
5) Clinical Care
a. Students will have a work-load that is 1/2 - 2/3 that of an intern in urology. When you are
working it your faculty mentor, it is expected that you will serve at the intern on the service
and sign out to the other residents the findings during rounds.
b. The student will be become proficient in Foley catheter insertion, the scrotal exam and the
digital rectal exam. They will be able to differentiate enlarged vs normal sized prostates as
well as nodules. They will become familiar with the endoscopic equipment used by
urologists. They will learn basic endoscopic, open and laparoscopic skills. This will be
taught in the operating room and in clinics.
c. Students will interact with nurses and other physicians/staff taking care of urology patients
on the floor, in the OR, and in clinics.
d. Students will demonstrate organizational skills and efficiency in maintaining clinical
information on the patients they cover on the floor, and in dividing their time between the
OR/clinic and the floor.
6) Professionalism
a. Students will maintain HIPAA compliance during their rotation, as well as a respectful
demeanor toward patients, physicians, staff, and others they encounter. They will dress in an
appropriate and tidy manner for clinics and the OR.