An adequate history and physical examination are fundamental to the clinical diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions. To that end, this course will teach the student how to perform a medical history and thorough physical examination and accurately record the findings.
The Essentials of Patient Care (EPC) curriculum consists of four semester-long courses. During EPC I & II, basic history and physical examination skills are taught from an organ systems-based approach. This is accomplished through a multifaceted approach of didactic instruction, hands-on experiential instruction and standardized patient encounters. Additionally, the student is introduced to features of common pathologic conditions associated with these systems in order to bring relevance to early clinical learning. Throughout these two semesters and the following two, emphasis is placed on the patient-centered approach to clinical medicine.
During EPC III and IV, the organ systems are revisited in conjunction with the system being covered in the basic science curriculum. The same teaching modalities employed in the first year are repeated here. During these two semesters, history-taking and physical examination skills are enhanced through the introduction of more advanced technique incorporating the students’ developing recognition of pathologic findings. The students will learn basic clinical skills in preparation for their clinical rotations.
The specific subject matter of each course is as follows:
- Essentials of Patient Care I - Obtain and record a patient history using patient-centered communication techniques. Perform the general assessment and check vital signs. Perform the screening exam for skin, hair, nails, cardiovascular and pulmonary systems.