August 17, 2023-January 22, 2024
Course Director
Danielle Heffner, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Department of Medicine
heffnerdl2@upmc.edu
Course Director
Ben Sprague, MD, MS
Assistant Professor
Department of Medicine
spragueb@upmc.edu
Course Description
This course takes a hands-on approach to learning to take a patient history and perform a physical exam.
Course Objectives
- Become comfortable in the approach to the patient.
- Build on the skills learned in Introduction to Medical Interviewing to develop proper techniques for taking a complete medical history.
- Begin to understand abnormal history patterns and their pathophysiologic implications.
- Learn to record a history for the medical record.
- Build on the skills learned in Introduction to Physical Examination to perform an orderly and technically correct physical examination.
- Begin to appreciate abnormal physical findings and their pathophysiologic significance.
- Learn to record the physical examination for the medical record.
- Begin to analyze the data obtained in the history and the physical examination and to develop a problem list and differential diagnosis.
Students have three 4-week adult physical examination segments and one 4-week pediatrics physical examination segment. Additionally, there are sessions devoted to complicated regional examinations including HEENT, ophthalmology, neurologic, psychiatric, cardiac, gynecologic, and male GU.
Educational Methods
- Lectures
- Demonstrations
- Clinical skills development
- Patient write-ups
- Standardized patients
- Preceptorship/hospital experience
Evaluation
Evaluation is based on reports from clinical preceptors, a successful completion of an observed full history and physical examination of a simulated (standardized) patient, successful completion of a multi-station standardized patient OSCE, participation in small group specialty sessions, and a written, multiple-choice exam.
Grading: Students are required to pass Advanced Physical Examination 1 to pass the Introduction to Patient Care Block, Section 2. Grading for the block is Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory.
Grading: Students are required to pass Advanced Physical Examination 2 to pass the Introduction to Patient Care Block, Section 3. Grading for the block is Satisfactory or Unsatisfactory.
Requests for excused absences should be submitted here. Unexcused absences may result in grading penalties as outlined in the Policy on Absence and Attendance.