Neurology

Clerkship Objectives Index | Ambulatory | Emergency Med | Family Med | Internal Med | Neurology | Ob/Gyn | Peds | Psych | Surgery | Sub-I

CURRENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES & ALIGNMENT

Overarching Goals

• The goal of teaching students to recognize and manage neurologic disease encompasses two categories of objectives: the procedural skills necessary to gather clinical information and communicate it and the analytical skills needed to interpret that information and act on it.
• The goal of the clerkship is to teach the principles and skills necessary to recognize and manage the neurologic diseases a general medical practitioner is most likely to encounter in practice.

1. Knowledge for Practice (KP)

• Demonstrate proficiency in the following analytical skills:
  • Recognizing symptoms that may signify neurologic disease (including disturbances of consciousness, cognition, language, vision, hearing, equilibrium, motor function, somatic sensation, and autonomic function)
  • Identifying symptoms that may represent neurologic emergencies.
  • Distinguishing normal from abnormal findings on a neurologic examination
  • Localizing the likely sites in the nervous system where a lesion may produce a patient's symptoms and signs
  • Formulating a differential diagnosis based on lesion localization and relevant historical and epidemiologic features.

2. Patient Care (PC): Develop skills necessary to care for patients with problems commonly seen by Internists.

• Demonstrate proficiency in the following procedural skills:
  • Interviewing to obtain a complete and reliable neurologic history
  • Performing a reliable neurologic examination
  • Examining patients with altered levels of consciousness or abnormal mental status
  • Delivering a clear, concise, and thorough oral presentation of a patient's neurologic history and examination
  • Preparing clear, concise, and thorough documentation of a patient's neurologic history and examination [Ideally]
  • Performing a lumbar puncture under direct supervision, or using simulation
  • Developing, presenting, and documenting a succinct, appropriate assessment and plan for the neurologic problem list.

3. Practice-Based Learning and Improvement (PBLI)

• Demonstrating awareness of the principles underlying a systematic approach to the management of common neurologic diseases.
• Describing timely management of neurologic emergencies
• Understanding cognitive biases and their implications for diagnostic errors
• Reviewing, interpreting, and applying pertinent medical literature to patient care

4. Interprofessional and Communication Skills (ICS)

• Demonstrate the ability to deliver information to patients about their proposed evaluation, evaluation results, or diagnoses in a professional and empathetic manner
• Communicate empathetically with patients and families
• Explaining the indication, potential complications, and interpretation of common tests used in diagnosing neurologic disease.
• Collaborate with patients, families, and health professionals in a manner that optimizes safe effective patient-centered care.

5. Professionalism: Demonstrate commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities treating patients with respect, demonstrating compassion and empathy, and advocating for patients), while exhibiting a strong work ethic and adhering to ethical principles.

• Identify ethical issues related to patient care.
• Demonstrate commitment to clinical excellence taking personal responsibility and "ownership" of patients and their care.

6. Systems-Based Practice (SBP)

• Developing skills needed to deliver patient-centered, compassionate neurologic care with an emphasis on diversity, inclusiveness, and recognition of implicit bias
• Applying principles of medical ethics to patient care
• Explaining the public health impact of neurologic disorders
• Identifying socioeconomic and regulatory issues and other health disparities that may influence the accessibility of affordable diagnostic and therapeutic resources

7. Interprofessional Collaboration (IPC)

• Identifying situations in which it is appropriate to request neurologic consultation

8. Personal and Professional Development (PPD)

• Demonstrate commitment to professional growth as through self-reflection, self-assessment, and personal ownership of responsibilities including the development of a plan for professional growth that includes reading about every patient cared for and completing assignments on time without complaints.