On October 14, 2024, a group of HKUMed students had their 1st visit at Rehabilitation Alliance Hong Kong as part of the Patient Care Project (PCP) hosted by the School of Public Health. 

The PCP is an interdisciplinary, community-based educational programme, providing students the opportunity to engage with patients with long-term conditions. Students actively engage with their assigned patients, gain a deeper understanding of their experiences and needs, and explore available services provided by different community partner sites. Through active engagement, the programme helps strengthen students’ emphatic and communication techniques to better serve the community, and develop the skills to navigate and identify community-based resources that address the needs of various populations. 

“Today, we are inundated with news about state-of-the-art research in disease prognosis, rapidly evolving precision medicine technologies, and individualised point-of-care treatments on social media. However, it is equally essential to emphasise the need for supporting rehabilitating patients with chronic health conditions. This support helps minimise the disabling effects of these long-lasting diseases and enables patients to reintegrate into their daily lives,” expressed Aeon Kwok Chun-wai, a Year 2 MBBS student.

Ka-hei Wong, a Year 2 BNurs student, reflected, “The PCP programme enables students from different healthcare disciplines to collaborate and engage meaningfully with patients living with chronic conditions. Through the interview process, my group gained invaluable insights into the needs and feelings of the elderly. This experience allowed me to step out of my comfort zone and gain exposure to the forefront of societal care.”

Students interact with patients through group activities to cultivate camaraderie and support.

Engaging in meaningful dialogue, fostering mutual learning and understanding.

Meaningful conversations arise when students and patients share their experiences.

Our students, along with staff from Rehabilitation Alliance Hong Kong, prepare game for the patients.