The year-long of Fundamentals of Patient Care (FPC) theme is designed to: 1) build required communication skills including, the medical interview; 2) provide students early and meaningful patient contact that will provide a foundation for understanding the patient-physician relationship; 3) increase knowledge about behavioral sciences concepts relevant to medical practice; 4) provide foundational instruction in and practice of physical examination techniques; 5) develop and refine students’ knowledge of and skill using medical informatics resources; 6) foster students’ acquisition of life-long, self-directed learning skills; and 7) begin the process of developing a professional identity as a physician.

FPC is composed of lectures, small group meetings, physical examination workshops, simulation exercises, service learning within the hospital setting, and other community-based experiences that enhance student learning that pertains to course objectives. Overall concepts are introduced during lectures. Small group meetings provide opportunities for elaboration of key concepts and additional topics not covered in lecture, for practicing medical interviewing skills with standardized patients, and team learning activities. Small group also provides opportunities for student didactic and patient presentations. Physical examination workshops and simulation activities focus on the acquisition and practice of basic techniques and interpretation of patient data. Service learning within the hospital exposes students to the patient care environment and provides meaningful opportunities to interact both with patients and with other healthcare professionals.

The goals and objectives of Fundamentals of Patient Care I are:

Theme Goals:

• Develop foundational medical communication skills, including patient interviewing
• Develop basic physical diagnosis skills
• Increase knowledge about behavioral science concepts relevant to medical practice
• Foster development of professional identity as physician
• Develop and refine ability to access medical information using informatics resources
• Foster the application of scientific knowledge to clinical medicine
• Begin preparation for the third-year clinical clerkships

Theme Learning Objectives: By the end of this theme, the student will be able to do the following:

• Effectively conduct a medical interview
• Establish rapport with a patient
• Conduct a physical examination of the patient
• Appreciate patient diversity and its relation to provision of, and access to, medical care
• Demonstrate basic oral and written patient presentation skills
• Demonstrate professionalism in patient care and educational settings through dress, demeanor, and appropriate communication
• Recognize and appreciate the roles of other healthcare professionals within a hospital setting
• Collaborate with peers and instructors in team settings to accomplish team goals
• Offer and accept instructive feedback
• Formulate and execute effective search strategies using electronic information tools
• Recognize high quality and reliable sources of medical information
• Demonstrate the ability to apply newly acquired information to clinical cases

Prerequisite:  enrollment in the M.D. degree program