Applying the curriculum to local operations: DipIMC practice questions
PHEM curriculum unit A.1 · Cross-cutting theme A: Operational Practice
The DipIMC is blueprinted against phase 1 of the UK Pre-hospital Emergency Medicine (PHEM) curriculum. This page covers unit A.1, Apply the curriculum framework to local operations.
Below are 3 free practice questions from the DipIMC.Ninja bank, in the Part A single best answer format. Every answer names the textbook page, guideline or statute it was written from, so you can check it rather than take it on trust. The bank holds 7 questions on this unit.
Question 1 · Medical & Resuscitation · Easy
A paramedic preparing for the RCSEd Diploma in Immediate Medical Care asks you what the examination is actually blueprinted against, so that she can plan her reading. According to the DIMC regulations (March 2023), which is the correct answer?
AA separate Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care syllabus for immediate care, apart from the PHEM curriculum
BThe JRCALC clinical guidelines, as the shared reference text for doctors, nurses and paramedics
CThe phase 2 capabilities and descriptors of the current UK PHEM curriculum, sampled across its themes
DAll phases of the current UK PHEM curriculum, 1(a), 1(b) and 2, sampled evenly across its themes
EThe phase 1(a) and 1(b) capabilities and descriptors of the current UK PHEM curriculum
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Answer: E
The phase 1(a) and 1(b) capabilities and descriptors of the current UK PHEM curriculum
The DIMC regulations state that the examination is blueprinted against the capabilities and descriptors in phase 1(a) or 1(b), and the associated themes and learning outcomes, of the current edition of the UK Pre-hospital Emergency Medicine (PHEM) curriculum, available on the GMC and IBTPHEM websites; candidates are strongly advised to read it. The Faculty's review of the DIMC and FIMC examinations says the same from the other direction: the DIMC is used by IBTPHEM as the phase 1 national summative assessment, and its written paper covers the phase 1a and 1b descriptors. Phase 2 belongs to the FIMC, so neither a phase 2 blueprint nor an even sampling of all phases is right. There is no separate Faculty syllabus, and JRCALC, however heavily used in UK practice, is a clinical guideline rather than the exam blueprint. The Oxford Handbook describes the same relationship: the two phases of national summative assessment correspond to the DipIMC and the FIMC.
Where this comes from
DIMC RCSEd Regulations (from March 2023)Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care, March 2023·Blueprinting“This examination is blueprinted against the capabilities and descriptors in phase 1(a) or 1(b)”Open PDF at page 1
Oxford Handbook of Pre-Hospital Carepp. 12–13Ch. 1 An approach to pre-hospital care · Training: Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine subspecialty training“The two phases of National Summative Assessment correspond to the DipIMC.RCSEd and FIMC.RCSEd.”
med-078 · Medical & Resuscitation · EMS Systems · Easy · v2
Question 2 · Medical & Resuscitation · Moderate
The RCSEd review of the DIMC examination publishes the intended sampling of the 180-question Part A paper across the PHEM curriculum themes. Which theme, or group of themes, is intended to carry the largest share of questions?
APHEM theme 1 — Working in emergency medical systems
BPHEM theme 2 — Providing pre-hospital emergency medical care
CPHEM theme 6 — Supporting emergency preparedness and response
DPHEM cross-cutting theme B — Team resource management
EPHEM cross-cutting themes A, B, C and D taken together
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Answer: B
PHEM theme 2 — Providing pre-hospital emergency medical care
Table 2.2 of the RCSEd review sets out the sampling of single best answer questions from the PHEM curriculum for the DIMC and FIMC written papers. Theme 2, providing pre-hospital emergency medical care, is allotted 54 questions, 30% of the paper. Themes 1, 3, 4, 5 and 6 each carry 18 questions (10%), and each cross-cutting theme 9 questions (5%), so the four cross-cutting themes together make up 20%, still less than theme 2. The review adds that the proportions may vary to some degree. The practical lesson is that clinical care dominates but does not monopolise the paper: 70% of the marks sit outside theme 2.
med-079 · Medical & Resuscitation · EMS Systems · Moderate · v2
Question 3 · Medical & Resuscitation · Moderate
A registered paramedic on a BASICS scheme asks how long after HCPC registration she must have been in practice before she is eligible to sit the DIMC by the standard route. Under the DIMC regulations from March 2023, what is the requirement?
ANot less than one year
BNot less than two years
CNot less than three years
DNot less than four years
ENot less than five years
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Answer: D
Not less than four years
Regulation 2.1.3 of the March 2023 DIMC regulations requires paramedics to have been engaged in the practice of their profession for not less than four years after registration with the UK Health and Care Professions Council. The same period applies to nurses after NMC registration (2.1.2), and to doctors after full GMC registration, although doctors may alternatively qualify by completing 5 months whole-time equivalent training within a UK approved PHEM training programme (2.1.1). The Oxford Handbook of Pre-Hospital Care (2021) still gives not less than two years for a paramedic, which reflects earlier regulations and is superseded; the College's current regulations govern, and they should be checked on the College website before applying.
Where this comes from
DIMC RCSEd Regulations (from March 2023)Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care, March 2023·§2 Eligibility: regulation 2.1.3 (paramedics)“engaged in the practice of their profession for not less than four years”Open PDF at page 2
DIMC RCSEd Regulations (from March 2023)Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, Faculty of Pre-Hospital Care, March 2023·§2 Eligibility: regulation 2.1.1 (doctors)“have completed 5 months whole-time equivalent training within a UK approved PHEM”Open PDF at page 2
Oxford Handbook of Pre-Hospital Carepp. 10–11Ch. 1 An approach to pre-hospital care · Diploma in Immediate Medical Care: entry requirements (older two-year rule, superseded)“a paramedic in the UK (or non-NHS equivalent) for not less than two years”
med-080 · Medical & Resuscitation · EMS Systems · Moderate · v2