Physical Assessment 2 for Physician Assistants

Catalog description

This course is the second of two classes that are focused on developing competency in taking a medical history, performing a physical exam, documenting findings, and recognizing history and exam findings that signify problems or diseases. This includes learning and practicing communication skills that include empathy and sensitivity with diverse populations and the key elements of developing therapeutic relationships with patients. Students are taught how to perform complete and focused histories and physical exams as they relate to specific body systems and patient complaints - and they practice these skills in the hands-on laboratory component of the course. In addition to learning how to examine the remaining body systems, students also learn how to perform histories and examinations on infants, children, adolescents, geriatrics and pregnant women. At the end of the course, students summarize and integrate their learning by demonstrating the ability to perform a head to toe exam with a standardized patient.