VCOM College Catalog and Student Handbook

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Programmatic Educational Objectives for Osteopathic Core Competencies

The graduates of the campuses of the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine will earn a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine Degree with the expectation of acquiring the knowledge and skills in the following:

1. Medical Knowledge: Integrate biomedical, clinical, and epidemiologic knowledge of the medical sciences to perform comprehensive patient evaluation and develop treatment plans. 2. Osteopathic Principles and Practice/Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment: a. Perform OMT as part of a treatment plan and collaborate with OMM specialists and other health c. Provide an osteopathic approach to patient care with recognition of the entire clinical context, including mind-body and psychosocial interrelationships and using the relationship between structure and function to promote health. 3. Practice-Based Learning: a. Research and critically appraise the most current medical literature for its validity, impact, and applicability in order to apply scientific evidence to patient care and to develop life-long learning. b. Describe and apply evidence-based medical principles and practices. Interpret features and meanings of different types of data, quantitative and qualitative, and different types of variables, including nominal, dichotomous, ordinal, continuous, ratio, and proportion. 4. Professionalism: Demonstrate the professional and ethical values expected of a physician, building community and patient trust and embracing the principles of medical jurisprudence related to patient care. 5. Communication: a. Communicate and partner with patients to implement an effective strategy in disease prevention and health maintenance across stages of the life cycle. b. Demonstrate the effective interpersonal and communication skills required to build trust with patients from diverse populations, taking into consideration religious and cultural beliefs, alternative practices, and socioeconomic status in order to establish an effective health care plan. 6. Patient Care: a. Perform a competent physical, neurologic, and structural examination, and when indicated, incorporate the analysis of laboratory and radiology results and diagnostic testing to diagnose clinical conditions and develop a patient care plan. b. Work as an effective member of the healthcare team, embracing the value of and collaborating with all professionals involved in the care of the patient. c. Reflect on personal strengths and deficiencies, identifying learning needs, and engaging in learning for improvement. d. Incorporate best practices in providing and documenting quality medical care, utilizing effective measures to prevent medical error and to promote optimal patient outcomes. 7. Systems-Based Practice: a. Work effectively in various health care delivery settings and systems, incorporating consideration of cost awareness and risk/benefit analysis in patient care, advocating for quality patient care and optimal patient care systems, and identifying systems errors and in implementing potential systems care providers to maximize patient treatment and outcomes. b. Advance osteopathic manipulation research and knowledge.

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