Evolution of Clinical Education under COVID-19 Pandemic: Blended Clinical Education

Abstract

Clinical education is traditionally face-to-face and includes hands-on experience with patients. Under the pandemic, all clinical practice in various settings were suspended because of the safety concern of students, patients and clinical educators. Under the pandemic, the demand of the healthcare professionals for acute management and post-pandemic rehabilitation was increased. The suspension of clinical training delayed students’ graduation which was especially undesirable because of the insufficient manpower in society and the healthcare system. With limited knowledge on the transmission, management and post-COVID health impact, strict rules of infectious control have been executed. When considering the resumption of clinical education to students, the issue of everyone’s safety, students’ learning experience, fulfilling the intended learning outcomes, and most importantly, meeting the criteria of professional licensure registration must be balanced. Given the urgency, the clinical education team had reviewed the key intended learning outcomes of clinical education in the existing curriculum and revamped the content by including concepts of effective learning and blended strategies. A new model—“Blended Clinical Education”—a combination of face-to-face and online modes was established. To ensure successful launch of the new model, numerous briefings with students, clinical educators, faculty members and licensure registration board were organized for easing their stress. With all colleagues’ efforts, students finally graduated in time and joined the healthcare system providing urgent supply of manpower.