Clinical Preceptorship I Syllabus
PRCP 1122
Course Director
Dr. Kenneth Olive, Executive Associate Dean
Academic Affairs, Building 178 (VA)
Stanton- Gerber
Email: olivek@etsu.edu
Telephone: 423-439-8005
Course Coordinator
Dana Bailey, Office Manager
Academic Affairs, Building 178 (VA)
Stanton- Gerber
Email: baileyd@etsu.edu
Telephone: 423-439-8003
Fax: 423-439-8004; Cell/Text: 423-557-3016
Course Description:
The Preceptorship is a clinical skills development course in which first-year students observe and
interact with patients in a clinical setting under the supervision of a physician.
Successful completion of Introduction to Physical Exam Skills is necessary prior to the preceptorship
course. Under clinician supervision, students interact with patients, perform history and physical exam
skills, present patients to their preceptors, perform some basic procedural skills, and engage in clinical
problem solving.
This course offers the student the opportunity for preceptorship in primary care, which consists of
family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics.
Course Format:
During Preceptorship I, you will be emailed a preceptorship application form to complete and return to
the course coordinator at a given date. This form will also be posted under the content tab of D2L. At
this time, you can request a preceptor that is agreeable with the requirements for this course. The
course coordinator will contact the preceptor and determine if this is the appropriate preceptorship for
you. This may require contracting with a hospital or other health care entity and may take some time.
Therefore, it is critical to get your requests in as early as possible. The course coordinator will serve as
the contact person for both you and the community physician and office staff, providing appropriate
information to each of you. If you do not have a specified physician, one will be assigned to you, while
taking into account your practice and location preferences.
Course Goals:
The course goal is to expose students to primary care role models and to the clinical practice of
medicine, to provide opportunities for students to apply clinical skills to actual patients, and to reinforce
concepts from other first-year courses.
Course Objective
The student will elicit a basic health
history on a patient seen in the office
setting.
The student will perform a problem
focused physical examination on a
patient in the office setting.
QCOM Institutional
Objective/Milestone
2.1.M1.A
2.1.M1.B
2.1.M1.D
2.1.M1.E
4.1.M1.C
2.2.M1.A
2.2.M1.B
2.7.M1.A
The student will demonstrate
appropriate use of basic diagnostic
equipment, e.g.
sphygomomanometer, stethoscope,
otoscope.
The student will present a focused
history and physical to the preceptor.
2.2.M1.A
2.2.M1.B
The student will write a SOAP note
based on a patient encounter.
4.3.M1.A
4.3.M1.B
The student will effectively present
findings of focused history and
physical examination in written
format.
The student will effectively present
findings of focused history and
physical examination in written
format.
The student will demonstrate
appropriate professional behavior and
dress throughout the preceptorship.
4.3.M1.A
The student will identify the clinically
important contextual issues related to
family, social class, ethnicity, gender
and sexual orientation.
4.2.M1.A
4.3.M2.B
3.1.M1.B
3.1.M1.C
3.1.M1.D
5.1.M1.A
5.2.M1.A
5.7.M1.A
5.6.M2.B.
Educational
Methods
Clinical
Experience;
Ambulatory
Preceptorship
Assessment
methods
Clinical
Documentation
Review
Clinical
Experience;
Ambulatory
Preceptorship
Clinical
Experience;
Ambulatory
Preceptorship
Clinical
Documentation
Review
Clinical
Experience;
Ambulatory
Preceptorship
Clinical
Experience;
Ambulatory
Preceptorship
Clinical
Experience;
Ambulatory
Preceptorship
Clinical
Experience;
Ambulatory
Preceptorship
Clinical
Experience;
Ambulatory
Preceptorship
Oral
Patient
Presentation
Clinical
Experience;
Ambulatory
Preceptorship
Oral
Patient
Presentation
Clinical
Performance
Rating
Clinical
Documentation
Review
Oral
Patient
Presentation
Clinical
Documentation
Review
Clinical
Performance
Rating
Professionalism:
 Call your preceptor in advance to introduce yourself and obtain specific instructions regarding
location, office hours, and other specific information.
 Dress in a professional manner, wearing your white coat and nametag from Quillen College of
Medicine
 Arrive on time for your preceptorship and call to notify the office if you are going to be late or if
you are not going to be able to be at their office or specified location
 Communication
 Greet patients and introduce yourself as a medical student
 Demonstrate active listening for the patient’s perspective of the illness
 Elicit clinical information
 Hear and respond to the patient’s feelings and emotions by utilizing proper verbal and nonverbal communication
Medical Knowledge, Examination Skills, and Patient Care:
 Demonstrate application of basic science principles to clinical practice
 Take vital signs
 Make general comments regarding appearance, state of illness, etc.
 Conduct examination of HEENT, neck, chest, heart, and abdomen; and demonstrate the
beginning development of skills to perform a history and physical exam
STUDENT PROCEDURES FOR SPECIAL SERVICES (ADA)
It is the policy of ETSU to accommodate students with disabilities, pursuant to federal law, state law,
and the University’s commitment to equal educational access. Any student with a disability who needs
accommodations, for example arrangement for examinations or seating placement, should inform the
instructor at the beginning of the course.
Special Accommodations: All students seeking an accommodation for disabilities are to contact Ms.
Linda Gibson, M.Ed., Director, ADA Coordinator for Disability Services at East Tennessee State University
(423-439-8346). Faculty accommodation forms are provided to students through Disability Services in
the D. P. Culp Center, Suite A. A letter from disability services is required before accommodations can
be made.
Tutoring: The Office of Student Affairs will make tutors available to any QCOM student. Contact
Student Affairs at (423-439-2037).
Counseling: Confidential academic and personal counseling are available through the Office of
Academic Affairs (423-439-8002) and the Professional and Academic Resource Center – PARC (Mr. Phil
Steffey, 423-232-2075 or pager 423-854-0342).
Course Grading:
Your performance in the preceptor course will be assessed by your preceptor. Your preceptorship
experience will also be assessed through your patient log. You will be given an evaluation for your
preceptor to complete on your performance. You are responsible for putting these evaluations in the
D2L drop box. Additionally, you must complete an evaluation of your preceptor. This evaluation is
located in D2L. You will be given further instructions for completing this evaluation at the end of the
course. You must receive a passing evaluation from your preceptor, complete your patient log, and
evaluate your preceptor to pass this course.
Tips for a Successful Preceptor Course:
 Help direct your learning experience by communicating regularly with your preceptor about
what you need to be learning. It is important to take responsibility for your own learning.
 Accept that your experience may differ considerably from your classmates’ experiences.
 Make a point to get to know the office staff, including the office manager, nurses, and other
office support staff. You can learn from these individuals, as well as the physician.
 Tell patients that you are a medical student.
 Integrate into the usual work pattern of the practice; be a valuable team member.
 Make an effort to apply some of the basic science knowledge you are acquiring to the patients
you encounter.
 Be a self-directed learner. Research patient related problems you encounter.
 Ask for help when needed from your preceptor and course coordinator.