Technical Standards

Michigan State University College of Human Medicine

Technical Standards

Technical standards are used in the selection of students for admittance to the College of Human Medicine, and document the technical abilities required of students throughout their medical school education. They are replicated here for transparency and to inform the ongoing assessment of students in the Shared Discovery Curriculum. Student must meet the technical standards each semester and upon return from leaves of absence before re-entering the curriculum.

Technical standards presented in this document are required for admission, progression, and graduation from the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. Conferral of a medical degree certifies that the recipient has demonstrated all the requisite abilities and skills to enter an accredited graduate medical education program. This demonstration encompasses a variety of attributes critical to the provision of quality medical care, including the physical, cognitive and emotional strengths necessary to complete the rigorous requirements of the medical school curriculum, and the social and behavioral skills expected of a competent physician.

All applicants and matriculants are held to the same academic and technical standards, with reasonable accommodations as needed for students with disabilities to enable them to meet the standard. Applicants and matriculants must have a diagnosed and documented disabling condition in order to request reasonable accommodations. Accommodations are requested through the Michigan State University Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD).

I. Observation Skills

A medical student must possess the observation skills necessary to:

• Acquire a defined level of required information as presented through demonstrations and experiences in the necessary sciences, including, but not limited to, information conveyed through physiologic and pharmacological demonstrations, microbiological cultures, and microscopic images of microorganisms and tissues in normal and pathologic states.
• Observe and interpret the physical and emotional status of a patient, both at a distance and close at hand.
• Acquire information from written and electronic sources.
• Visualize information as presented in images from paper, films, slides, or video.
• Interpret x-ray and other graphic images as well as digital or analog representations of physiologic phenomenon (such as electrocardiograms).

Such observation and information acquisition requires the functional use of visual, auditory and somatic senses, enhanced by the functional use of other sensory modalities. When a medical student’s ability to observe or acquire information through these sensory modalities is compromised, the student must demonstrate alternative means and/or abilities to acquire the essential information conveyed in this fashion. If the alternatives are acceptable, it is expected that obtaining and using such alternate means and/or abilities will be the responsibility of the student. The use of a trained intermediary to perform the necessary skills on behalf of the candidate is not permitted.

II. Communication Skills

A medical student must possess the communication skills necessary to:

• Skillfully communicate in English verbally, in writing, and electronically.
• Speak, hear, and observe patients by sight to elicit information; describe changes in mood, activity, and posture; and perceive nonverbal communications.
• Communicate effectively and sensitively with patients; communication includes speech and writing.
• Communicate effectively and efficiently in a timely manner, in oral and written form, with all members of the academic and health care team.
• Conscientiously respond to email, telephone, and pager communication.

Such communication requires the functional use of visual, auditory, and somatic senses enhanced by the functional use of other sensory modalities. When a medical student’s ability to communicate through these sensory modalities is compromised the student must demonstrate alternative means and/or abilities to meet communication standards. If the alternatives are acceptable, it is expected that obtaining and using such alternate means and/or abilities will be the responsibility of the student. The use of a trained intermediary to perform the necessary skills on behalf of the candidate is not permitted. 

III. Motor Skills

A medical student must possess the motor skills necessary to:

• Directly perform palpation, percussion, auscultation, and other diagnostic maneuvers.
• Perform basic laboratory tests and diagnostic procedures.
• Execute motor movements reasonably required to provide general and emergency medical care, such as airway management, placement of intravenous catheters, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, application of pressure to control bleeding, suturing of wounds, and the performance of simple obstetrical maneuvers.

Such actions require coordination of both gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium, and functional use of the senses of touch and vision. The use of a trained intermediary to perform the necessary skills on behalf of the candidate is not permitted.

IV. Social and Behavioral Abilities

A medical student must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of his or her intellectual abilities. In addition, a medical student must possess the social and behavioral skills necessary to:

• Exercise good judgment (i.e. recognizing and communicating limitations, discerning when to ask for help, prioritizing responsibilities, truthfulness in self-report, maintaining professional boundaries with patients).
• Attend all required experiences.
• Conscientiously complete all assignments and responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients.
• Develop effective relationships with patients, based on trust, respect, and dignity.
• Function effectively under stress.
• Tolerate physically, emotionally, and mentally demanding workloads.
• Adapt to changing environments, display flexibility, and learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in the clinical problems of patients.
• Communicate with and care for, in a nonjudgmental way, all persons including those whose culture, spiritual beliefs, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, and/or age are different from their own.
• Examine the entire patient, regardless of gender, and regardless of the social, cultural, or religious beliefs of the patient or of the medical student.

The use of a trained intermediary to perform the necessary skills on behalf of the candidate is not permitted.

V. Intellectual-Conceptual, Integrative, and Quantitative Abilities

A medical student must have sufficient intellectual cognitive capacity to assimilate a large volume of technically detailed and complex information presented in a variety of teaching formats. Integration and application of the learned principles to solve problems is a critical skill required of every physician. Medical students must be able to:

• Measure, calculate, reason, analyze, integrate, and synthesize.
• Comprehend three-dimensional relationships and understand the spatial relationships of structures.
• Perform these problem-solving skills in a timely fashion.
• Remain awake and alert, even in the face of long hours and stressful environments.

The use of a trained intermediary to perform the necessary skills on behalf of the candidate is not permitted.

Responsibilities

Michigan State University is committed to providing equal opportunity for participation in all programs, services and activities. While the university provides reasonable accommodations, it does not change essential academic requirements, technical standards, or job functions. Accommodation determinations are based on documentation and individualized needs assessment. Requests for accommodations by persons with disabilities may be made by contacting the Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD) at 517-884-7273. or on the website. Once eligibility for an accommodation has been determined, an Accommodation Letter or Temporary Adjustment Letter will be issue. This form must be presented to Instructor of Record(s) at the start of the term and/or two weeks prior to the accommodation date (test, project, etc.). Requests received after this date will be honored whenever possible. The Accommodation Letter includes information about the role of the student, faculty member, and RCPD staff members; a sample is available on the RCPD website.

Students who have initiated the process for accommodations with RCPD may request courtesy accommodations by contacting their course director(s) at the start of the term and/or three weeks prior to the accommodation date. Approval for courtesy accommodations are a the discretion of the course director. The RCPD has internal mechanisms to request reconsideration and dispute disability determinations or appropriateness of accommodations.

A student impacted by pregnancy, childbirth, pregnancy-related conditions, or parenting may request accommodations using a separate process. First, the student files a Public Incident Reporting Form. The Office of Civil Rights initiates an assessment that includes discussion with faculty and staff as needed. Approved modifications are issued in a student’s Pregnancy-Related Conditions and Parent Student Modification Form (PRP). More information is available through the civil rights office.

Students must continue to meet Technical Standards when enrolled in the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. If the student is unable to meet the Technical Standards, the student will be placed on leave of absence. The student is able to appeal and grieve this decision as described in the Medical Student Rights and Responsibilities. 

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