Introduction to The Patient Examination

Catalog description

Introduction to the Patient Examination will cover foundational concepts of the physical therapy patient examination. This course exposes students to the initial steps in the patient/client professional relationship. It will focus on the following skills: patient history, observation, obtaining consent, performing a systems review, vital signs, palpation, range of motion, goniometry, muscle performance testing, safe patient handling, and functional mobility. This course requires the student to integrate knowledge from pre-requisite courses and concurrent Duke DPT courses to apply to patient care scenarios. We will emphasize integration of core values of the PT profession into practice. Our goal is that each student develops the necessary examination skills to assure both patient/client and student safety in the clinical environment. By the end of this course, the student will be able to perform a comprehensive, accurate and appropriately prioritized patient examination on a standardized patient in a practical examination format. Students will also complete a summative, comprehensive written final examination.