Competencies Assessed in Patient/Physician Relationship

Effective Communication is assessed with

six written reports (5 ethics, 1 hospice),

patient histories (one oral presentation, others written),

and oral discussion sections in ethics.

Basic Clinical Skills are introduced when students

take patient histories.

make one oral presentation of a patient to their rounds group.

Life-long Learning is emphasized by

presenting sessions designed to help students realize their limitations.

presenting several resources available to the physician.

Self-awareness, Self-care, and Personal Growth is addressed by

discussing stress management techniques.

considering cross-cultural issues and religious values.

discussing how a patient's right to self determination impacts on the student's value systems.

Social and Community Contexts of Health Care are considered by

requiring students to visit hospice patients and local clinics in town.

attending conferences that examine how community cultural and religious issues
impact on patient treatment and physician interaction.    

inviting nurses, social workers, clinic directors, religious leaders, and lawyers to present their concerns
and expertise and how they interface with physicians and the patient/physician relationship.

Moral Reasoning and Ethical  Judgment is assessed by

requiring students to write five position statements based on different ethical dilemmas.

Professionalism and Role Recognition are examined by

attending sessions devoted to patient empathy and privacy issues, as well as a conference on legalities
of informed consent and institutional policies, etc.

participating in two conferences that discuss the art and role of being a physician and the need to give
something back to the community.     

discussing hospital dress codes.