MCLIN 101 - Science and Practice Medicine

[142 Hours]

This interdisciplinary course begins the clinical education of medical students. It has three components: computer-based cases, small group clinical forums, and training in the Clinical Skills Laboratory. Computer-based cases are assigned to all students on a weekly basis. They are selected to reflect complaints that are commonly seen in clinical practice. They are also selected to enhance the teaching of basic science concepts. After the students have completed each case, the entire class meets for a discussion that is led by both a clinician and a basic scientist. The clinician discusses the case itself, the clinical learning objectives, and addresses common mistakes made by the class in solving the case. The basic scientist reviews the relevant underlying anatomy, physiology or biochemistry that students recently learned. These assignments ensure that students begin to develop some skill at clinical problem solving within the first few weeks of medical school. In the first year, the major focus is on making the appropriate diagnosis via history, physical examination and appropriate diagnostic testing. Students meet in with clinical faculty on a regular basis in their small group clinical forums. First year forums focus on professionalism, patient-physician communication, history taking, medical ethics, human development, social issues and cultural competency. The third component of the course (clinical experiences) provides hands on experience and the opportunity for students to practice the skills of clinical medicine. Several training sessions are conducted in the Skills Laboratory. This lab provides supervised practice, direct observation and assurance of student competency in basic medical procedures. The procedures and skills increase in complexity as a student progresses from the first year through the second. During the first year, students are certified in Basic Life Support. Physical examination skills are also taught in small groups in the laboratory. All students are expected to complete a 1-week primary care preceptorship at the beginning of the second semester. This is largely an observational experience, but students are expected to practice the history taking and physical examination skills learned during the first semester of the SPM 100 course.