Introduction to Outpatient Primary Care Internal Medicine

Catalog description

The rotation is best suited for students interested in pursuing a career in primary care or internal medicine due to the faster pace of clinic. Course Goals: At the end of the experience, students should be able to 1) Diagnose and manage a number of common internal medicine and primary care problems including a wide variety of diseases that are generally seen only in the ambulatory setting 2) Be familiar with current USPSTF guidelines for preventive services and cancer screening, 3) Competently and efficiently take a problem-focused history, perform a directed physical exam and perform some office-based procedures. How Goals Are Achieved: The student will work with faculty preceptors within Duke Primary Care, Duke Outpatient Clinic, and other community-based offices spending one or more days per week seeing patients with a preceptor. The student with see patients at multiple different sites with multiple preceptors. Clinical sites are located both at Duke and in the surrounding communities. A diverse mix of patients and conditions are seen in the outpatient setting. Patients present for preventive services, as well as, management of chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, osteoporosis, and common mental health conditions. In addition, patients are seen for acute illnesses such as pneumonia, pharyngitis, sinusitis and urinary tract infections on a same day basis. Patients routinely present with symptoms that have not been previously evaluated or diagnosed, allowing students to truly sharpen their clinical skills. The student evaluates selected patients first then presents and discusses the case with the attending. The student must outline in writing five goals that he or she wishes to accomplish during this rotation. The student's goals should be emailed to Dr. Waite at least three weeks before the rotation begins. Methods of Evaluation: The…