PAS 511: Patient Assessment and Clinical Skills I (4.0 credit hours)
This is the first of three courses focused on patient assessment and clinical skills. Students develop interpersonal communication and clinical decision making skills as they learn how to elicit focused patient histories, perform focused physical examinations, interpret clinical findings, order and interpret diagnostic studies, generate differential diagnosis lists, determine the most likely diagnosis, explain clinical findings and assessments to patients and their families, determine appropriate management options, engage patients and their families to formulate patient-centered management plans, and present and document patient encounters. Students learn the indications, contraindications, and potential complications of common clinical procedures. Students also develop correct techniques for and proper documentation of common clinical procedures. Learning objectives in this course align with many of the learning objectives in PAS 501 and PAS 531. Instruction is primarily in small group discussion, simulated patient encounters, and laboratory format. Procedures are performed on simulated task trainers, human cadavers, and classmates as appropriate. These learning experiences enable students to achieve the program’s Didactic Phase Learning Outcomes. Student learning is assessed primarily with physical examination and clinical skills practicals, written assignments, and simulated patient encounters.
Pre-requisite(s): PAS 506 and PAS 507