10 - Technical Non-Academic Standards

Essential Abilities and Characteristics Required for Completion of the MD Degree

INTRODUCTION

The MD degree is a broad undifferentiated degree attesting to general knowledge in medicine and the basic skills required for the practice of medicine. Essential abilities and characteristics required for completion of the MD degree consist of certain minimum physical and cognitive abilities and sufficient mental and emotional stability to assure that candidates for admission, promotion, and graduation are able to complete the entire course of study and participate fully in all aspects of medical training. The School of Medicine intends for its graduates to become competent and compassionate physicians who are capable of pursing and completing graduate medical education, passing licensing exams and obtaining and maintaining medical licensure.  The avowed intention of an individual student to practice only a narrow part of clinical medicine, or to pursue a non-clinical career, does not alter the requirement that all medical students take and achieve competence in the full curriculum required by the faculty.  For purposes of this document and unless otherwise defined, the term “candidate” means candidates for admission to medical school as well as enrolled medical students who are candidates for promotion and graduation.

The School of Medicine has an ethical responsibility for the safety of patients with whom students and graduates will come in contact. Although students learn and work under the supervision of the faculty, students interact with patients throughout their medical school education.  Patient safety and well-being are therefore major factors in establishing requirements involving the physical, cognitive, and emotional abilities of candidates for admission, promotion, and graduation.  The essential abilities and characteristics described herein are also referred to as technical (or non-academic) standards.  They are described below in several broad categories including: observation; communication; motor function; intellectual-conceptual, integrative, and quantitative abilities; and social and behavioral skills.  In addition to these, candidates must have the physical and emotional stamina to function in a competent manner in settings that may involve heavy workloads and stressful situations.  Individuals who constitute a direct threat to the health and safety of others are not suitable candidates for admission, promotion or graduation.

Delineation of technical standards is required for the accreditation of U.S. medical schools by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education.  The following abilities and characteristics are defined as technical standards, which in conjunction with academic standards established by the faculty, are requirements for admission, promotion, and graduation.

1. OBSERVATION:   Candidates must be able to observe demonstrations and participate in experiments of science, including but not limited to such things as dissection of cadavers; examination of specimens in anatomy, pathology, and neuroanatomy laboratories; and microscopic study of microorganisms and tissues in normal and pathologic states.  Candidates must be able to accurately observe patients and assess findings. They must be able to obtain a complete or focused medical history and perform a complete physical examination in order to integrate findings based on these observations and to develop an appropriate diagnostic and treatment plan.  These skills require the functional use of vision, hearing, and touch. 
2. COMMUNICATION:  Candidates must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently with patients, their families, and members of the health care team.  They must be able to obtain a medical history in a timely fashion, interpret non-verbal aspects of communication, and establish therapeutic relationships with patients.  Candidates must be able to record information accurately and clearly; and communicate effectively in English with other health care professionals in a variety of patient settings.
3. MOTOR FUNCTION:  Candidates must possess the capacity to perform physical examinations and diagnostic maneuvers.  They must be able to respond to emergency situations in a timely manner and provide general and emergency care.  Such activities require physical mobility, coordination of both gross and fine motor neuromuscular function, and balance and equilibrium.      
4. INTELLECTUAL, CONCEPTUAL, INTEGRATIVE, AND QUANTITATIVE ABILITIES:  Candidates must have sufficient cognitive (mental) abilities and effective learning techniques to assimilate the detailed and complex information presented in the medical student curriculum.  They must be able to learn through a variety of modalities including, but not limited to, classroom instruction; small group, team and collaborative activities; individual study; preparation and presentation of reports; and use of computer and information technology.   Candidates must be able to memorize, measure, calculate, reason, analyze, synthesize, and transmit information by multiple mechanisms.  They must recognize and draw conclusions about three-dimensional spatial relationships and logical sequential relationships among events.  They must be able to formulate and test hypotheses that enable effective and timely problem-solving in diagnosis and treatment of patients in a variety of clinical settings.
5. BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL ATTRIBUTES:  Candidates must demonstrate the maturity and emotional stability required for full use of their intellectual abilities. They must accept responsibility for learning, exercising good judgment, and promptly completing all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients.  They must understand the legal and ethical aspects of the practice of medicine and function within both the law and ethical standards of the medical profession.  Candidates must be able to interact with patients, their families, and health care personnel in a courteous, professional, and respectful manner. They must be able to tolerate physically taxing workloads and long work hours, to function effectively under stress, and to display flexibility and adaptability to changing environments.  Candidates must be able to contribute to collaborative, constructive learning environments; accept constructive feedback from others; and take personal responsibility for making appropriate positive changes. They must adhere to universal precaution measures and meet safety standards applicable to inpatient and outpatient settings and other clinical activities.
6. ETHICAL AND LEGAL STANDARDS: Candidates must meet the legal standards to be licensed to practice medicine in the State of California.  As such, candidates for admission must acknowledge and provide written explanation of any felony or misdemeanor offense(s) action taken against them prior to matriculation at the School of Medicine.  In addition, after matriculation, students must immediately notify the Associate Dean of Students of any arrest, charge, or conviction occurring thereafter. Students must be of the highest ethical and moral behavior.  Felony conviction or failure to disclose prior or new offenses can lead to disciplinary action by the school that may include dismissal.

ABILITY TO MEET THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE’S TECHNICAL STANDARDS

The School of Medicine only admits students for the purpose of training them to become competent and compassionate physicians who are capable of entering a residency program and requires that they must meet all requirements necessary to obtain a medical license.

Equal Access to the School of Medicine’s Educational Program

The University of California does not discriminate against qualified individuals with disabilities who apply for admission to the MD degree program or who are enrolled as medical students.  Otherwise qualified individuals shall not be excluded from admission or participation in the School of Medicine’s educational programs and activities solely by reason of their disability or medical condition.  The School of Medicine provides reasonable accommodation in its academic programs to qualified individuals with disabilities.  A reasonable accommodation is one that does not create a fundamental alteration of the program or lower academic standards.  Learning disabilities are included under this policy.

Any candidate who poses a threat to the health and safety of others may be denied admission or dismissed from school.

Any student with an existing disability, or who may develop a disability, who seeks an accommodation must notify the UCLA Center for Accessible Education in writing and provide adequate documentation prior to the start of coursework and/or education activity in which an accommodation is required.  

The UCLA Center for Accessible Education will consult with the School of Medicine to notify them of a student’s request and recommended accommodations. The School of Medicine may require additional assessment or evaluation in consultation with the UCLA Center for Accessible Education in order to confirm if the student is able to meet these technical standards

Acknowledgment: This document was adopted by the University of California and approved by the UCLA SOM Faculty Executive Committee on May 24, 2016. It was developed and based upon consultation with experienced medical educators throughout the state and careful review and discussion of the technical standards and guidelines developed by California’s public and private medical schools.