Clinical Skills is one of the three components of the Profession of Medicine courses. It is structured in a longitudinal format with Clinical Skills Educators (CSEs) for the entire two years. Clinical Skills is the essential core of "doctoring" course. In each of the courses you will learn the fundamental skills necessary to become a skilled future practicing physician. These courses are designed to provide each of you as a medical student the opportunity to build the core knowledge and skills needed for patient care. Excellent communication skills, as well as proficiency in physical diagnosis and clinical reasoning are essential to quality patient care. The Clinical Skills courses are structured to guide you through the basic foundational steps to give each of you the skills and knowledge you will need to provide patient care. The first course begins with a focus on developing your communication skills; the aspects of the medical interview are outlined and through practice sessions with Standardized Patients your proficiency in this area are developed. The next phases of Clinical Skills add the elements of a basic core physical examination along with continued medical interview training. The courses are structured in a developmental format, advancing patient communication skills as well as increasing complexity with physical examination skills and oral and written presentation skills. Each session will build on skills learned in the previous session.
Each organ-based course will begin with an overview given by the discipline specialist covering the specific physical examination and clinical findings. Students will complete written formal patient histories and physical examinations according to their previous assignments. At the end of this Course Component you will have a final comprehensive OSCE examination. This is a comprehensive OSCE reflective of USLME CS exam.