NORTHEAST CAMPUS

RHEUMATOLOGY

IMED 9306

Valley Bone & Joint Clinic (3035 DeMers Avenue)

Participating Faculty:      James A. Lessard, M.D.

Offered:    1/Period

Purpose:  To expose the senior medical student to a variety of rheumatologic conditions with the goal of developing and improving skills in diagnosing, treating, and following these conditions in the outpatient setting.

Objectives of the Elective:  Following successful completion of this elective, the student will be able to:

  1. Effectively interview patients with rheumatologic conditions to obtain the necessary information from the patient pertaining to their condition.
  2. Perform a thorough musculoskeletal examination on patients in the outpatient or inpatient setting.
  3. Diagnose and manage common rheumatologic conditions including, but not limited to: Rheumatoid Arthritis, Discoid and Systemic Lupus Erythematosis, Sjogren's Syndrome, Mixed Connective Tissue Disorders, Fibromyalgia, Degenerative Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis, Giant Cell Arteritis, Infectious Arthropathies, Paget's Disease of the bone, and others.
  4. Describe the basic evaluation and management of the rheumatologic patient, which encompasses understanding the complex medical and psychosocial needs of the patient.
  5. Perform joint aspirations and injections under the direct supervision of the experienced physician.
  6. Perform joint fluid analysis and identify features of the basic bone and joint diseases and conditions.
  7. Interpret basic plan radiographs of the bones and joints, including the spine.
  8. Particiipate in inpatient and outpatient (as the faculty practice allows) management of rheumatologic disease patients.
  9. Document appropriately (via handwritten, computer or dictated note) interactions with the patients seen during the elective.

Instructional Activities: During this elective, the student will be involved in/experience:

  1. Reading of standard rheumatologic textbooks and primary literature to support and expand clinical and didactic teaching.
  2. Discussion of cases among peers with attending supervision.
  3. Instruction on the performance of the musculoskeletal examination, joint aspirations and injections by the experienced practitioner.
  4. Instruction on joint fluid analysis and interpretation as well as plain radiograph interpretation.
  5. Informal didactic teaching oriented toward rheumatologic topics.

Criteria for Grading: During and following this elective, the preceptor will:

  1. Judge by direct observation of clinical skills and review of the patient medical records the student's ability to perform an efficient history and physical exam on a rheumatologic patient.
  2. Evaluate by direct observation and review of the patient medical records the student's ability to interpret joint fluid, laboratory studies and radiographs pertaining to the rheumatologic patient.
  3. Judge by direct observation the student's level of proficiency in diagnosis and treatment of rheumatologic diseases.
  4. Judge by direct observation the student's ability to work as a member of an integrated health team.
  5. Judge by direct observation the student's ability to present cases and integrate, assess and learn new information.
  6. Complete the standard UND senior evaluation form with particular attention to the skills obtained in the items listed above under "Criteria for Grading."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Revised:  1-24-07