VCOM College Catalog and Student Handbook

Student Participation in Osteopathic Physical Examination and Osteopathic Manipulative MedicineTreatment in Educational Environments This policy is aligned with the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM) Task Force on Ethics and Professionalism. VCOM recognizes and respects the importance of having curriculum and policies that uphold the values of VCOM and the osteopathic profession. These values include a commitment to promote a safe and professional learning environment for students. The College is also committed to the development of the appropriate knowledge, skills, and attitudes for safe and professional patient care including history taking, the osteopathic medical examination including palpation, and osteopathic manual medicine and medical treatment (OMM or OMT). The Osteopathic Examination and Osteopathic Manipulation The content of VCOM’s OMM curriculum has been developed based on guidance provided by the Educational Council on Osteopathic Principles (ECOP) of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM). During years one and two, students are enrolled in eight blocks over 4 semesters. In each block there is OMM instruction, which includes both lecture and hands-on clinical skills learning in the OMM lab. The course includes the foundational aspects of the osteopathic structural examination, palpatory diagnosis, and the application of various osteopathic treatment modalities. These core requirements are also required to learn the appropriate examination and treatment techniques required to advance to the clinical years. Osteopathic manipulative medicine skills are also learned in the clinical setting when rotating with osteopathic physicians and through OMM workshop instruction. The OPP/OMM lectures provided prior to each laboratory describe the purpose and conduct of the osteopathic examination for the system and the application for osteopathic treatment for various conditions that impact the system. The information presented in the lectures that precede the laboratory, where the osteopathic examination occurs, describes the possible physical findings and the appropriate treatment techniques for conditions in each system. Students should always complete the lecture prior to the laboratory. In the laboratory, learning the examination and techniques require palpation (touching) by other students and osteopathic manipulation. This is done through peer-to-peer learning under the supervision of faculty. The osteopathic procedures taught in the OMM laboratory are built upon the assurance that every student learns the minimum standard curriculum endorsed by Executive Council on Osteopathic Practices. Additional levels of skill in the musculoskeletal osteopathic palpatory examination and treatment are also included in the VCOM curriculum and are those provided by primary care physicians who are skilled in ONMM. Students should be aware that the curriculum involves both the osteopathic palpatory examination and osteopathic manipulative therapy (OMM or OMT). The Requirement of Touching and Examination Using Peer-to-Peer Learning Osteopathic examination and treatment requires touching, which is known as palpation. All VCOM osteopathic medical students are expected to become comfortable and skilled in their ability to inspect, auscultate, percuss, and palpate a variety of body regions in both male and female subjects. These are core requirements and are included in the Technical Standards. Such palpation should always be done in a respectful and professional manner, so that both the patient and physician are comfortable with the exam.

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