Northwest Campus

Internal Medicine

IMED 9402

Participating Faculty:   Samir I. Farah, M.D. (TH-E)
                                     

Offered: All periods
Positions: One per preceptor per period
Maximum number of students per year: No maximum

Objectives of the Elective:

1. Acquire a sound approach to developing a history and physical examination at the level of the specialist in internal medicine.
2. To learn how to use the history and physical examination to draw up a concise problem list.
3. To develop a continuous approach in use of a problem list and plan of evaluation of treatment to return the patient to good health at the least possible cost as quickly as possible.
4. To learn how to communicate with the patient at the level of the patients medical sophistication.
5. To learn essential procedures such as lumbar puncture, thoracentesis, bone marrow biopsy, endotracheal intubation. For the procedures that are not actually done, video tape films will be available for review of these items.
6. To cover as many medical problem areas as possible the four- week rotation and develop a sound approach to their evaluation.
7. To develop an approach for preventive medicine; i.e., modification of coronary risk factors, dietary approach, early detection and prevention of cancer.
8. To become acquainted with the usage of allied health personnel.
9. To become familiar with the general concepts of medical oncology including the use of antineoplastic agents, the pharmacophysiology of antineoplastic therapy in the management of patients with malignant disease.

Instructional Activities:

1. The student will make daily hospital rounds with the preceptor and do complete histories and physicals on all patients that the preceptor selects.
2. The student will write daily progress notes and orders which will be cosigned by the preceptor.
3. The student will do discharge summaries if designated by the preceptor.
4. The student will do, in the presence of the preceptor, a variety of procedures such as lumbar punctures thoracentesis, paracentesis, bone marrow biopsy, endotracheal intubation, subclavian catheter insertion, and proctosigmoidoscopy.
5. The student will make at least one formal presentation during his rotation; for instance, a case report with review of literature.
6. Suggested references include either current Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine or the Cecil Textbook of Medicine. A medical library with all periodical journals is available at any time.
7. Outpatient experience will be worked in as time permits.

Standards of Performance Indicating Attainment of Objectives:

Criteria for Grading:

1. Data gathering.
2. Interaction.
3. Problem solving.
4. Patient management.
5. Psychosocial.
6. Procedural skills.
7. Clinical competence.
8. Case presentation.