Objectives
History and Physical Examination – The effective acquisition of a medical history and the performance of a comprehensive physical examination in patients with acute and chronic internal medicine diseases necessitating hospital admission.
Case Presentations - Students are expected to effectively record an initial history and physical examination and follow-up notes (e.g. S.O.A.P notes) as well as deliver comprehensive oral presentations to their team members based on these written documents.
Test Interpretation – Basic understanding of routine laboratory and ancillary tests, including complete blood count, chemistry panels, ECG, chest x-rays, pulmonary function tests, and body fluid cell counts. In addition, students will properly understand the necessity of incorporating sensitivity, specificity, and pre-test probability in the ordering of individual tests in the context of evaluating patients’ signs and symptoms.
Diagnostic Decision Making – The formulation of a differential diagnosis using history and physical examination data and the development of a prioritized problem list to select tests and make effective therapeutic decisions.
Therapeutic Decision Making – This objective includes assessing the risks, benefits, and costs of varying, effective treatment options; involving the patient in decision-making via open discussion; selecting drugs from within classes; and the design of basic treatment programs and using critical pathways when appropriate.
Core Internal Medicine Concepts – The development of a basic understanding of core Internal Medicine concepts.
Communication and Relationships with Patients and Colleagues – The establishment of rapport with patients by identifying important psychosocial issues and providing patient-centered care through specific medical treatment as well as education. In addition, the development of effective communication skills in working relationships with fellow students, housestaff, faculty, nurses, and ancillary personnel. In each of these components, sensitivity to racial and cultural diversity should be demonstrated.
Bioethics of Patient Care – The development of a functional understanding of informed consent, advanced directives, and the physician-patient relationship.
Self-directed Learning – The identification of key information resources and the utilization of the medical literature to expand one’s knowledge base and to search for answers to medical problems.
Preventive Medicine – The promotion of health via adult immunizations, periodic health screening, and risk factor assessment and modification.