VCOM College Catalog and Student Handbook

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. Participation in the primary care and OMM laboratory on campus requires hands-on osteopathic physical examinations, the ability to make a diagnosis based upon the physical examination, and the ability to apply and practice osteopathic manipulative medicine treatment (also known as OMM or OMT). All VCOM applicants and students are hereby informed of the basic requirement to touch other persons (male and female) and to be touched as a part of the technical standards. In addition, the student must participate in and pass the required primary care and osteopathic manipulative medicine curriculum and all OMM requirements to become a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO). In the OMM laboratory, the student is required to take on both the role of an examining (student) physician and as the patient who is being examined or palpated. Students are therefore required to perform the osteopathic physical examination and certain osteopathic manipulative medicine treatments in the physical diagnosis and osteopathic manipulative medicine laboratory settings where other students will practice performing such examinations and treatments on them. This is known as peer-to-peer learning and is necessary for learning the osteopathic examination and manipulation. In addition, to assure the findings of the students are correct and to demonstrate OMM examination and treatment techniques, VCOM faculty will perform certain examinations and treatments (including OMM) as a part of assessing student performance and in the demonstration of examinations and treatments to students. Professionalism in the Peer-To-Peer Learning Environment The PPC/OMM laboratory is an environment where the student must learn appropriate and professional data gathering skills and physical examination skills on peers. The student is expected to maintain professional conduct at all times in the OMT laboratory with attention to and respect for the patient (in this case, their peer student laboratory partner). Paying attention to and providing respect for the patient (or peer student) includes respecting modesty, assuring a demeanor that allows for dignity, and assuring comfort. These assurances are made by both the

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