Other psychological responses to acute and chronic illness, and death and dying, and to the psychology of the handicapped, are discussed, as they relate to the patient and the medical practitioner. Students are introduced to the techniques of modeling and role playing and are required to participate in the roles of health care practitioner, patient and family member. Emphasis is placed on establishing a relationship, and understanding the effects of culture and personality types. This course is designed in sequence with the topics presented in PAS 304 Fundamentals of Clinical Medicine I and focuses on practical pharmacotherapeutics. Mechanisms of drug action, therapeutic uses, specific effects and toxicity, effects on organ systems, contraindications and drug interactions will be presented.
Emphasis is placed on the most commonly used categories of drugs.
Also included are practical prescription writing and legalities of prescription writing as they pertain to physician assistants. This is a laboratory course that will focus on basic laboratory procedures used to investigate clinical problems encountered in the primary care setting. In addition to office procedures, laboratory tests conducted in the hospital setting useful in making a diagnosis and evaluating treatment effectiveness will be emphasized. Tests relevant to hematology, chemistry, bacteriology, urinalysis, and immunology will be discussed, demonstrated, and performed. In addition to the laboratory experience, students will be exposed to interpreting case studies and laboratory reports.