Rheumatology

Catalog description

(1) Course Goals: For students to learn the basics of the evaluation and management of patients with inflammatory and non-inflammatory arthritis, autoimmune and immunological disorders. Diseases seen include the various forms of arthritis and other inflammatory diseases such as lupus and other connective tissue diseases, vasculitis, scleroderma, and myositis. Students will also learn to interpret specialized laboratory studies relating to the evaluation of patients with rheumatic and immunological disorders. Students are exposed to joint aspiration and injection, synovial fluid analysis, musculoskeletal radiology, and histopathological analysis. (2) How Goals Are Achieved: Two weeks of the rotation are spent in the Duke Rheumatology faculty clinics located in Duke South Clinics and in our South Durham or Brier Creek (Raleigh) locations. Two weeks are spent as part of the rounding team on the Duke Hospital inpatient rheumatology consultation service. The inpatient consultation team includes an attending physician, a fellow, a student and possibly residents. Students are expected to perform at least three new inpatient consultations each week. Rounds focus on oral presentation of patients including detailed review of history, physical examination findings, pertinent laboratory, x-ray and pathological findings. Students attend divisional conferences including weekly Rheumatology and Immunology Grand Rounds, Rheumatology Fellows Core Curriculum Conference, Journal Club, and Rheumatology/Radiology Conference. Students are expected to watch two introductory videos, one on the approach to the rheumatology patient and one on the rheumatologic musculoskeletal examination. Justification for a grade of honors includes the following: Evidence through direct observation of house officer-level clinical skills in rheumatology; evidence of timely completion of learning modules,…