Learning Opportunities

In order to accomplish the performance goals, the students should evaluate patients with various presenting problems, participate in the development of diagnoses, assist in the development of health management plans and follow the provision of comprehensive and continuous health care. These needs are best met by permitting the students to participate in the actual provision of this form of health care in clinical settings of family and community medicine (Family and Community Medicine residency-based private practice learning communities). From these experiences, the students observe the different aspects of family and community medicine. For example, the opportunity to observe continuous health care provided by family physicians as they accept the responsibility for the long-term care of their patients is available at each of the clerkship teaching sites. If the patients are referred for other specialty care, the students also observe that these family physicians continue to be involved in the patient's health care. The impact of an illness on the health of the family in disease prevention and rehabilitation is emphasized in each of the settings where patient care is occurring. The students have opportunities to observe high-quality health care and the development of effective doctor-patient relationships. The students also have opportunities to practice the appropriate interpersonal skills necessary to establish these relationships.