Course Catalog

 
STP2016 IMPACTING THE COMMUNITY: A RURAL MEDICINE CLINICAL EXPERIENCE
Department FAMILY & COMMUNITY MEDICINE Campus Birmingham
Course Type(s) Special Topic Facility UAB Family Medicine
Course Director B. EARL SALSER, JR., MD Enrollment Limit 5
Contact FAMILY MEDICINE Enrollment Minimum 1
Email fmstudenteduc@uabmc.edu Address UAB Department of Family & Community Medicine
930 20th Street South, Suite 331B
Birmingham, AL 35205
Phone (205) 975-2288 Fax (205) 996-3468
Weeks
Normally Offered
See Offering Dates		 44-44
Prerequisites Completion of first year of medical school. 
Specific Clerkship Prerequisites:
Visiting Students
No LCME students accepted.
No osteopathic students accepted.
Course Description Students will be assigned to a family physician in a rural setting. The student will observe and work with the MD in their clinic and make rounds where appropriate to experience the life of a rural physician. In the 3 week experience, the student would also take a half-day to discover the community's health needs (interview Chamber of Commerce member, townsperson, visit a major employer's worksite or farm, etc.) and develop a brochure, presentation or therapuetic plan to impact the community. The student would present this to the rural preceptor.
Where To Report Contact Crystal Odom 205-975-2288 - setting will be various rural sites
Requirements ALL - Preceptor observation and assessment by rural preceptor
1 WK students - complete a 250 word minimum paper about their experience and what they have assessed as the critical healthcare needs of their particular community

2 WK students - Read a rural medicine text and complete a 250 word paper about their experience and assessment of the healthcare needs of the community.

3 WK students - read a rural medicine text and develop a community based project to address a critical healthcare need of the community. This would be presented to the preceptor
.
REQUIRED READING: one from this list
CARING FOR THE COUNTRY, Rabinowitz
BRYSON CITY TALES, Walt Larimore
HEIRS OF GENERAL PRACTICE, John McPhee
Evaluation Preceptor observation and assessment by rural preceptor
1 WK students - complete a 250 word minimum paper about their experience and what they have assessed as the critical healthcare needs of their particular community

2 WK students - Read a rural medicine text and complete a 250 word paper about their experience and assessment of the healthcare needs of the community.

3 WK students - read a rural medicine text and develop a community based project to address a critical healthcare need of the community. This would be presented to the preceptor.
Notes LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
a. Observe and understand history and physical examination techniques as they pertain to a broad range of ages and diseases (1-3 weeks)
b. Uunderstand the role of rural medicine practitioners as primary healthcare providers and community leaders (1-3 weeks)
c. Observe and understand a comprehensive approach to dealing with multiple medical issues in all patient age ranges (1-3 weeks)
d. Understand the role of preventative medicine in a rural medicine practitioner's practice (1-3 weeks)
e. Discover and understand a health concern that uniquely impacts rural areas (2-3 weeks)
f. Show critical thinking skills while developing a therapeutic management plan to deal with a community health concern (3 weeks)