Clinical Course Descriptions
- Family Medicine: This is a four-week clinical experience in an out-patient setting where students work with board-certified family medicine physicians and, if available, their physician assistants. This supervised clinical practice experience (SCPE) is designed to provide the student with an interactive, problem-based learning opportunity. Students will acquire clinical experience through evaluation and management of both acute and chronic diseases under direct supervision by their Preceptor. The focus of the SCPE is to use the “Medical Home” philosophy of primary care. This model is described as patient-centered, comprehensive, team-based, coordinated, accessible, and focused on quality and safely. This approach to patient care is emphasized while students participate in the work-up, diagnosis, treatment and education of the family medicine patient and their family.
- Internal Medicine: This is a four-week clinical experience in both in-patient and out-patient setting where students work with board-certified internal medicine physician and their physician assistants. This rotation is designed to provide the student with an interactive, problem-based learning opportunity. Students will acquire clinical experience through evaluation and management of general internal medicine patients under direct supervision by their Preceptor. The team approach to patient care and safety is emphasized while students participate in the work-up, diagnosis, treatment and education of the general internal medicine patient and their family.
- Emergency Medicine: This is a four-week clinical experience in emergency department setting where students work with board-certified emergency medicine physician and their physician assistants. This rotation is designed to provide the student with an interactive, problem-based learning opportunity. Students will acquire clinical experience through evaluation and management of critically ill patients under direct supervision by their Preceptor. The team approach to patient care and safety is emphasized while students participate in the work-up, diagnosis, treatment and education of the emergency medicine patient and their family.
- Medicine: There are five rotations designated as MEDICINE in the clinical phase. Each is a four-week clinical experience in a medicine or surgical specialty area. These rotations will be selected by the PA Program. The experiences are designed to provide the student with interactive, problem-based learning opportunities. Students will acquire clinical experience through evaluation and management of patients under direct supervision by their Preceptor. The team approach to patient care and safety is emphasized while students participate in the work-up, diagnosis, treatment and education of the patient and their family.
- Behavioral Health: This is a four-week clinical experience in the in-patient and/or out-patient setting where students work with board-certified psychiatrist and their physician assistants. This rotation is designed to provide the student with an interactive, problem-based learning opportunity. Students will acquire clinical experience through evaluation and management of psychiatric patients under direct supervision by their Preceptor. The team approach to patient care and safety is emphasized while students participate in the work-up, diagnosis, treatment and education of the psychiatric patient.
- Women's Health: This is a four-week clinical experience in an in-patient and out-patient setting where students work with board-certified obstetricians/gynecologists and their physician assistants. Students will acquire clinical experience through evaluation and management of women’s health issues throughout the reproductive and post-menopausal years. Participation in surgery, assisting in labor and deliver may be required on this rotation.
- Pediatrics: This is a four-week clinical experience in an in-patient and out-patient setting where students work with board-certified pediatricians and their physician assistants. Students will acquire clinical experience in the care of children from birth through adolescence.
- Surgery: This is a four-week clinical experience in the surgical, in-patient, and out-patient setting where students work with board-certified surgeons and their physician assistants. This rotation is designed to provide the student with an interactive, problem-based learning opportunity. Students will acquire skills in diagnosis and pre-operative to post-operative management of the surgical patient. The student will assist in the operating room as required.
- Operationalizing a Medical Practice: The first set of lectures in the Medical Practice Operations series will target employment and medical practice management. This discipline is a comprehensive subject matter emphasizing the strategic planning of a successful career and medical practice. Careful research of environmental factors, such as: geographical location and population economic status, leads to proactive development of how these factors will influence the set-up and management of a practice. The operational concepts within both the private sector or within a multi-level organizational health care system will be demonstrated. Also, analytical techniques to determine the correct balance of the patient panel payer mix, will create knowledge of individual, interpersonal relationships with networking, as well as team/group management skills and how to integrate these to avoid errors in management and business. These focuses will all be insight along with various models of employment opportunity types.
- Health Care Financial Strategies: This second course in the Medical Practice Operations curriculum is structured to emphasize the financials involved within a medical practice. The primary focus will be on describing financial analysis strategies and incorporating fundamental accounting principles. Attention to patient-centered care while maintaining cost-effectiveness is the central theme. The intent of the course is to ultimately lead students to contribute as an employee and/or to enable them to be an asset as a plausible partner/co-owner of a successful medical practice.
- Accessing the Community: The third set of lectures in the Medical Practice Operations series will target awareness of the surrounding medical community needs. This discipline is a comprehensive subject matter emphasizing the planning and adapting of the medical practice according to this awareness of the surrounding patient population. Careful research of psychographic, demographic and epidemiological factors; as well as patient behavior and patient satisfaction will be factors. The operational concepts within both the private sector or within a multi-level organizational health care system will be demonstrated.
- Reimbursement, Documentation of Care, Coding and Billing: This fourth subset of the Medical Practice Operations course focuses on knowledge needed to optimize payments from third party payors. Students examine the nature and role of the third party payor environment, its influence on health care practice management, and the types of organizations comprising the system. Students also learn the practical and regulatory requirements associated with health care credentialing and learn from first-hand experiences with the credentialing process. Finally, this course presents the essentials of medical billing and coding as the seminal driver for efficient and accurate provider payments.
- Contracts and Medical Law: The final set of lectures in the Medical Practice Operations series focuses on covering details of the PA employment contract. Numerous examples of actual PA contracts will be used to emphasize positive and negative components of the employment relationship. The second part of this course will focus on presenting topics in medical law that directly impact PA practice. These topics include understanding how the Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure & Supervision works, the responsibilities involved in DEA registration, understanding medical malpractice from types of coverage to the mechanics of a suit, and understanding the process of initial licensure to practice.
