This course is designed to support student understanding of the characteristics of the geriatric patient. Emphasis is given to the key concepts relating the practice of medicine and the geriatric population. Clinical problems associated with the aging process are investigated. This course is designed in sequence with the topics presented in the Introduction to Clinical Medicine coursework and focuses on practical pharmacotherapeutics. Mechanisms of drug action, therapeutic uses, specific effects and toxicities, effects on organ systems, contraindications and drug interactions will be presented.
Emphasis is placed on the most commonly used categories of drugs.
This is a continuation of PA321 Pharmacology I and designed in sequence with Introduction to Clinical Medicine coursework. The Physician Assistant Program of Wake Forest University School of Medicine is currently utilizing multimedia technology within the curriculum. Students enrolled in the program will be issued IBM laptop computers at the time of enrollment. Specifics regarding this requirement will be available during interview sessions. This two course sequence provides the essentials of medical science.