Practice of Medicine 3
Module Description
This longitudinal module builds on foundational doctoring skills by advancing students’ competence in clinical reasoning, communication, physical examination, and patient-centered care. The module is structured around complex inpatient and outpatient cases and prepares students for the clinical demands of clerkships. Through small group sessions that emphasize learner-driven discussion and collaborative problem-solving, students will work through medically complex cases and refine their approach to diagnosis and management. Standardized patient encounters, simulated electronic health record use, and written and oral communication exercises provide opportunities to navigate real-world clinical challenges, including longitudinal outpatient care, acute inpatient decision-making, and situations that require empathetic, ethically sensitive communication. The module lays the groundwork for future clinical practice, preparing students for their subsequent clinical rotations and fostering a lifelong commitment to excellence in medicine.
Module Goals
To apply clinical reasoning frameworks to complex inpatient and outpatient scenarios
To demonstrate effective communication in challenging clinical encounters, including the delivery of serious news and responding to patient emotions
To recognize ethical challenges in patient care
To navigate the electronic health record to obtain information for making diagnostic and management decisions
To participate in simulated inpatient team rounds and outpatient longitudinal care
To integrate evidence-based medicine into diagnostic and management decision-making, including the use of artificial intelligence tools
To perform genitourinary, gynecologic and fundoscopy exams, and interpret basic point-of-care ultrasound
Learning Objectives
By the end of this module, students will:
Module Learning Objective
Medical Education Program Objective
Apply clinical reasoning to complex inpatient and outpatient cases using frameworks such as illness scripts and problem representations
Patient Care:
1. Gather essential and accurate information about patients and their conditions through history-taking, physical examination, and the use of laboratory data, imaging, and other tests.
2. Interpret laboratory data, imaging studies, and other tests required for the area of practice 
3. Make informed decisions about diagnostic and therapeutic interventions
Knowledge for Practice:
8. Apply knowledge of the biomedical sciences to care for patients
9. Apply established and emerging principles of clinical sciences to diagnostic and therapeutic decision-making, clinical problem-solving, and other aspects of evidence-based health care 
Formulate diagnostic and therapeutic plans for inpatient and outpatient cases using clinical guidelines and evidence
Patient Care:
3.  Make informed decisions about diagnostic and therapeutic interventions
Knowledge for Practice:
9. Apply established and emerging principles of clinical sciences to diagnostic and therapeutic decision-making, clinical problem-solving, and other aspects of evidence-based health care
Practice-Based Learning and Improvement
13. Locate, appraise, and assimilate evidence from scientific studies related to patients’ health problems
Communicate with patients in emotionally charged situations, including responding to strong emotions and delivering serious news
Knowledge for Practice:
11. Apply principles of social-behavioral sciences to the delivery of healthcare
Professionalism:
16. Exhibit the behaviors of honesty, integrity, and respect in interactions with peers, staff, faculty, and patients
Interpersonal and Communication Skills:
19. Communicate effectively with patients, families, and caregivers across a broad range of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.
Engage patients and caregivers in shared decision-making and patient education
Patient Care:
5. Counsel and educate patients and their families so that they can participate in their care and enable shared decision making
Knowledge for Practice:
11. Apply principles of social-behavioral sciences to the delivery of healthcare
Interpersonal and Communication Skills:
19. Communicate effectively with patients, families, and caregivers across a broad range of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds
Identify and analyze ethical issues related to patient care
Professionalism:
15. Demonstrate ethical principles in the care of patients
Professionalism:
16. Exhibit the behaviors of honesty, integrity, and respect in interactions with peers, staff, faculty, and patients
Conduct triadic interviews using the electronic health record as a shared tool during simulated outpatient encounters
Interpersonal and Communication Skills:
19. Communicate effectively with patients, families, and caregivers across a broad range of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds
20. Communicate effectively with colleagues within one's profession or specialty, other health professionals, and health related agencies 
21. Maintain comprehensive, timely medical records
Navigate a simulated electronic health record to extract, interpret, and document clinical information
Interpersonal and Communication Skills:
20. Communicate effectively with colleagues within one's profession or specialty, other health professionals, and health related agencies 
21. Maintain comprehensive, timely medical records 
Participate in inpatient rounding simulations by presenting and documenting patients’ clinical progress
Patient Care
1. Gather essential and accurate information about patients and their conditions through history-taking, physical examination, and the use of laboratory data, imaging, and other tests
2. Interpret laboratory data, imaging studies, and other tests required for the area of practice 
3. Make informed decisions about diagnostic and therapeutic interventions
Knowledge for Practice:
9. Apply established and emerging principles of clinical sciences to diagnostic and therapeutic decision-making, clinical problem-solving, and other aspects of evidence-based health care
Interpersonal and Communication Skills:
20. Communicate effectively with colleagues within one's profession or specialty, other health professionals, and health related agencies 
21. Maintain comprehensive, timely medical records
Demonstrate introductory competence in genitourinary, gynecologic, and fundoscopy exams, and point-of-care ultrasound techniques
Patient Care:
1. Gather essential and accurate information about patients and their conditions through history-taking, physical examination, and the use of laboratory data, imaging, and other tests
4. Perform medical, diagnostic, and surgical procedures considered essential for the area of practice
Demonstrate the professional attributes required for effective patient-physician and interprofessional relationships
Professionalism:
16. Exhibit the behaviors of honesty, integrity, and respect in interactions with peers, staff, faculty, and patients. 
Personal and Professional Development:
17. Evaluate one’s personal, professional and educational needs through reflection and utilize resources to meet those needs
18. Employ strategies for seeking, receiving, acting upon, and delivering feedback
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