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Indiana University School of Medicine
Indiana University School of Medicine
MD Education Program

Foundations of Clinical Practice One (36 weeks)

In the course Foundations of Clinical Practice Year One, medical students develop clinical skills, gain knowledge about the field of medicine, and explore the social context of health and disease.

Course Objectives

The following course objectives align with the IU School of Medicine MD Curriculum Competencies and Institutional Learning Objectives. This alignment enables faculty and students to understand how current student learning prepares them for the next stage in training and for their ongoing practice and maintenance of certification.

Demonstrate the essentials of taking a comprehensive patient history and perform a complete physical examination.

Perform a comprehensive physical exam incorporating specific skills such as the appropriate use of an ophthalmoscope and otoscope.

Use the patient’s history and physical examination findings to generate a list of active medical problems.

Apply evidence-based principles of clinical reasoning/problem solving.

Begin to interpret diagnostic tests using foundational science knowledge.

Demonstrate effective communication skills that permit an accurate and respectful gathering of information from patients.

Identify and demonstrate techniques for modifying communication that is sensitive to the differences, values, and needs of others, with attention to the context and purpose of the conversation.

Incorporate the perspectives of the patient and other healthcare professionals into collaborative clinical decision-making.

Recognize techniques that contribute to shared decision making between physicians, patients and/or families.

Identify and demonstrate techniques for modifying communication that is sensitive to the differences, values, and needs of others, with attention to the context and purpose of the conversation.

Prepare a basic written documentation of patient history, physical exam, and problem summary for patient encounters.

Recognize the utility, benefits and limitations of an electronic health record.

Apply basic principles of evidence-based medicine: formulating a clinical question; searching and retrieving medical information from various evidence-based sources.

Recognize professional behavior and perform in a manner that is consistent with the medical profession’s accepted standards.

Identify and analyze alternatives in difficult ethical choices. Identify unethical and unprofessional behaviors in others and begins to address these behaviors through conflict resolution or formal organizational/institutional channels.

Adhere to ethical and legal principles that govern medical practice and medical documentation including patient confidentiality.

Recognize ethical issues in a clinical case and identify the moral stakeholders, relevant ethical rights, duties, and value conflicts.

Demonstrate an awareness of the roles and responsibilities of the different members of the healthcare team.

Within the context of patient encounters and patient care, analyze how an individual’s values, life circumstances, and familial and cultural influences can motivate his or her behavior, health care utilization, and interpretations of health care information and decision-making.

Describe the impact of local, state, and federal policies and resources on individual and community health outcomes.

Analyze the organization, financing including principles of cost-effective care, and delivery of health care.