Long Term Care Elective

Catalog description

Students are assigned to work under the supervision of licensed physicians and/or physician assistants in conjunction with the healthcare team to gain practical clinical experience in working with the elderly and those patients who are suffering from chronic diseases. In this repeat of a core rotation in Long-Term Care, students are exposed to a wide variety of common geriatric and long-term care problems. This rotation stresses characteristics of the normal aging process, so that students may better identify and address deviations from the norm. Students gain exposure to end-of-life issues and psychosocial dynamics. Students incrementally develop the ability to analyze and synthesize medical information, to reason independently, and to apply the concepts of medical decision-making and problem-solving to complex patient presentations. Students should be able to differentiate the care of elderly and those patients who are suffering from chronic diseases. Emphasis is placed on the geriatric patient for both acute and on-going care. Students are required to attend rounds, grand rounds, scheduled lectures, and conferences while on the Geriatric/Long-Term Care service. Students will be required to take a comprehensive exam upon completion of the rotation.