A. Level One:
This is the level of competence expected of students just prior to entering their clinical clerkships.
- Students can elicit a complete medical history and perform a complete physical examination (H&PE) using proper technique.
- They understand how to organize and analyze collected data, though the quality of the history of the present illness and differential diagnosis will be limited by their knowledge of the pertinent diseases.
- Students have an introductory knowledge of routine clinical procedures and know proper techniques for performing these procedures. They have had some practice with these techniques, although they will not be expected to perform them without supervision.
B. Level Two
- Students can elicit an accurate and complete medical history, and perform an accurate and complete physical examination, though they will periodically miss subtle findings (Ex: mitral diastolic murmur, slightly enlarged spleen).
- They can determine what parts of the H&PE are pertinent to particular clinical settings such as the emergency department or the outpatient clinic.
- They know when and how to obtain emergency assistance, consultation, and referral.
- They analyze data collected in their H&PEs to form cogent differential diagnoses or problem lists, and they can communicate these findings and analyses to others clearly and concisely.
- Students can perform routine clinical procedures accurately and recognize when they need consultation or assistance in completing the procedure or interpreting the results.