Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Science/Laboratory

Catalog description

This course is a lecture and lab format course that builds upon the information provided in Anatomy, Human Physiology and Exercise Physiology. The course is designed to provide an expanded exposure to mechanisms that may explain clinical manifestations occurring at rest and during exercise in patients with cardiovascular, pulmonary diagnoses and critical illnesses. Students will also draw from information presented in the Pharmacology and Medical Science courses as they integrate information presented in case scenarios. Students will learn to select and perform examinations pertinent to each clients conditions while implementing a contemporary clinical decision making process as outlined in the Guide to Physical Therapist Practice, Preferred Physical Therapist Practice Patterns: Cardiovascular and Pulmonary; Chapter 6. Through the clinical decision making process, the student will learn to define a physical therapy diagnosis and prognosis supported by evidence in the literature. Students will learn to select appropriate interventions and demonstrate sound application of techniques to remediate or manage cardiovascular and pulmonary dysfunction in an effort to optimize patient performance. To reinforce clinical decision making, there will be lab sessions and lab simulation(s) utilizing high fidelity human lab as well as a community engagement service learning component with a reflective paper.