PAS - 591 Advanced Clinical Practice

This three-course sequence consists of nine months of rotations in a single focused area of advanced clinical practice. Students will select an area of clinical focus, in one of the following areas of practice: orthopedics, cardiothoracic surgery, vascular surgery, emergency medicine, internal medicine, and pulmonary, critical care medicine, urology, interventional radiology, neurosurgery, geriatrics, and physical medicine and rehabilitation. The advanced training rotations will generally require a minimum of 40 contact hours per week, and night call will generally be required. For the orthopedic advanced rotation, students will acquire an in-depth knowledge of the care and treatment of patients with musculoskeletal problems. Students will work with individual attending physicians and PAs in various areas of orthopedic practice, such as Joint Reconstructive Service, Foot-Ankle-Hand Service, Sports Medicine Service, Pediatric and Tumor Service, or the Spine Service. Students will work in an office clinic setting, assist in surgery, and round on inpatients For the surgical advanced rotations, students will review the principles of preoperative and postoperative care, diagnosis of surgical disease, indications for surgery, recognition and response to surgical emergencies, and the physiological principles of surgery. Students may choose general, thoracic, cardiac/cardiovascular, oncology, or vascular surgery for specialty rotations. For the emergency department advanced rotation, students will practice, under the supervision of a staff member, the diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care of patients suffering from both minor and major emergency problems. For the internal medicine advanced rotations, students will have an opportunity to concentrate on general practice skills to provide effective healthcare to adults. Emphasis is placed on providing comprehensive maintenance as well as acute and chronic care healthcare across the adult life span. For the pulmonary medicine and critical care advanced rotations, students will be exposed to the diagnosis and management of patients with a wide variety of pulmonary disorders. The essentials of pulmonary physiology, the use and interpretation of pulmonary function testing, and the provision of mechanical ventilatory support are emphasized. Critical care rotations will be included. For the advanced rotations in urology, students will gain experience in the diagnosis and management of disorders of the genitourinary system. The disciple crosses both medical and surgical management considerations and emphasis is placed on the recognition of disease and gaining experience across a wide-range of therapeutic modalities. For the interventional radiology advanced rotation, student will gain familiarity with managing a wide range of disorders using a range of radiographic techniques, including angioplasty, stents, atherectomy, and thrombolysis. Interventional radiology involves use these techniques to treat disorders in various organs in combination with imaging techniques, such as fluoroscopy, CT, MRI and/or ultrasound. For the neurosurgery advanced rotation, student will gain familiarity with managing a wide range of neurologic disorders using a range of surgical techniques, including shunts, burr holes, and stereotactic techniques. Neurosurgery involves the use of these techniques to treat disorders of the central and peripheral nervous system and the spine, in combination with imaging techniques, such as fluoroscopy, CT and/or MRI. For the geriatric advanced rotation, student will gain familiarity with managing a wide range of disorders seen in the geriatric population. Geriatric medicine involves treating all organ systems affected by aging, as well as issues specific to the elderly patient population, such as polypharmacy, falls, and depression. Care of the geriatric patient is often multidisciplinary, and participation in team activities and care planning is required. For the physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM and R) advanced rotation, student will gain familiarity with managing a wide range of disorders seen in the adult and pediatric rehabilitation population. Rehabilitation medicine involves diagnosis evaluation, and treatment of patients with cognitive and/or physical disabilities, as well as the management of co-morbidities and pain. Care of the PM and R patient is often multidisciplinary, and participation in team activities and care planning is required. Credit Hours: (30)