Department of Physician Assistant Studies
Learning. Caring. Serving. Leading.
PAS 636: Inpatient Medicine
3 Semester Hours
Course Director:
Diane Duffy, MD
Tracey Tonsor, PA-C
Office
FC 205
FC 207
Phone
336-278-6848
336-278-6852
E-mail
dduffy2@elon.edu
ttonsor@elon.edu
Course Description: The Inpatient Medicine rotation is designed to give the student an overview of
the care of hospitalized patients. During this rotation the students will learn the indications for
admission to the hospital and the care of a hospitalized patient. The student will actively participate in
the ongoing care of the patient, working with consulting services as needed and coordinating discharge
planning.
Course Goals: The educational goals of the Inpatient Medicine rotation include:
1. To apply the medical content and principles that define the care of hospitalized patients.
2. To provide opportunities for each student to develop the core PA competencies in a supervised
inpatient setting
3. To expose each student to an experienced and competent medical provider role model for the
care of hospitalized patients.
Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this course the clinical phase PA students will:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Recognize the indications for hospitalization of a patient.
Perform a complete history and physical examination and formulate a differential diagnosis.
Utilize and interpret appropriate diagnostic tests in the evaluation of the patient.
Coordinate care of the patient with the appropriate consultation services as needed
Maintain problem focused progress notes in the medical record.
Participate in the ongoing assessment of the patient during the hospital stay.
Maintain communication with the referring or primary care provider.
Anticipate discharge needs such as medication prescriptions, outpatient therapy or services and
equipment needed.
9. Facilitate communication with designated patient contacts as allowed by HIPAA.
10. Generate the discharge summary as directed by the attending physician.
Revised 10/23/13
Teaching Methodologies: The content of this module will be presented through a variety of
methods that include observation and participation at the clinical site, independent reading and
participation in online activities developed to guide experiential learning.
Accommodations: Students requiring academic accommodations must follow the “Academic Support”
policy in the Elon University DPAS Student Handbook.
Academic Honesty: All Elon PA students acknowledged their commitment to abide by the Elon Honor
Code by signing the Honor Pledge during orientation. Students will sign an Honor Pledge (electronically
or manually) each time an assignment is turned in or an examination is started to reaffirm their
complete understanding of the Honor Code of Elon University and their affirmation that their work
abides by that Code.
Required Textbooks:
1. All first-year required textbooks.
2. Clinician's Pocket Reference, 11th Edition [Paperback]
3. The Washington Manual of Medical Therapeutics, 33rd Edition [Paperback]
Other Resources:
1. *Moodle: Please check the course site frequently for new announcements, updated schedules,
assignments and other course communication.
2. Practicing physician assistants, physicians, allied health care providers and laboratory teaching
aids.
Assessment Activities:
Exams/quizzes (25%), Preceptor Evaluation (65%), Professionalism (10%).
Grade Scale and Grade Points:
Percentage
89.50-100
85.50-89.49
79.50-85.49
75.50-79.49
69.50-75.49
Below 69.50
There is no rounding of grades.
Letter Grade
A
B+
B
C+
C
U
Grade points
4.0
3.3
3.0
2.3
2.0
0
Revised 10/23/13
Note: For further information regarding academic standing in the Department of Physician
Assistant Studies, please see the Student Handbook.
Grading Criteria:
1. Demonstrate acquisition of a strong basic science and medical science knowledge base as
demonstrated on the written examination/quizzes.
2. Demonstrate satisfactory self-directed learning skills, clinical reasoning skills, interpersonal
communication, commitment to patient-centered care, professionalism and practice-based
learning as evidenced by satisfactory performance on the preceptor evaluation.
3. Demonstrate a commitment to learning and professionalism by actively participating in all
clinical activities and exceeding the professional behavior standards and minimum requirements
for clinical rotations available in the Elon PA Student Handbook.
Instructional Objectives:
1. Elicit a complete medical history using information from the patient, medical record, outpatient
evaluations, family members (as appropriate) and referring physician. Include complete past
medical and family history.
2. Complete a thorough physical examination.
3. Formulate a differential diagnosis based on the history and physical and any diagnostic
evaluations completed.
4. Order and interpret appropriate diagnostic tests throughout the hospital stay.
5. Work with the medical team, facilitating communication among consulting services.
6. Participate in the ongoing assessment of the hospitalized patient.
7. Maintain detailed problem-focused progress notes.
8. Present the patient to the medical team during rounds
a. Include pertinent changes in status
b. Use problem-focused approach
c. Formulate a plan for further testing, treatment, evaluation
9. Assist with communication of a patient’s status with family members or other contacts within
HIPAA regulations and respecting patients’ requests.
10. Anticipate needs of the patient after discharge and work to coordinate any medical
prescriptions, equipment or services needed as an outpatient.
11. Be sensitive to and anticipate emotional/psychological responses to hospitalization, diagnoses,
treatments and/or diagnostic evaluations.
12. Formulate the discharge summary and plan ensuring smooth transition of care to the patient’s
referring or primary medical provider.
13. Describe the presentation (including chief complaint, pertinent physical exam and diagnostic
findings), evaluation, etiology, management, and outcomes for the following reasons for
hospitalization:
Revised 10/23/13
TOPICS LIST
Critical Care
Acute adrenal insufficiency
Thyroid storm
Diabetic Ketoacidosis/acute
hypoglycemia
Acute glycoma
Pulmonary embolism
Acute respiratory distress/failure
Pneumothorax
Angina pectoris
Myocardial infarction
Cardiac arrest
Cardiac arrhythmias and blocks
Cardiac failure
Hypertensive crisis
Acute gastrointestinal bleed
Acute abdomen
Seizures
Shock
Coma
Cardiac tamponade
Pericardial effusion
Status epilepticus
Pulmonary
Acute/chronic bronchitis
Asthma
Chronic obstructive pulmonary
disease
Pneumonia (viral, bacterial,
fungal, HIV related)
Pulmonary neoplasm
Carcinoid tumor
Bronchiectasis
Solitary pulmonary nodule
Sarcoidosis
Hypoventilation syndrome
Pulmonary hypertension
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
Pneumoconiosis
Cor pulmonale
Cardiovascular
Congestive heart failure
Hypertension
Heart murmurs
Valvular heart disease
Myocardial infarction
Cardiac arrhythmias/conduction
disorders
Myocarditis
Endocarditis
Pericarditis
Cardiomyopathy
Hyperlipidemia
Peripheral vascular disease
Coronary vascular disease
Rheumatic fever
Rheumatic heart disease
Vascular disease
Angina pectoris
Gastrointestinal
Ulcerative colitis
Crohn’s disease
Diverticular disease
Acute/chronic pancreatitis
Hiatal hernia
Gastroesophageal reflux disease
Peptic ulcer disease
Gastritis
Gastroenteritis
Esophagitis
Mallory-Weiss tear
Esophageal strictures
Esophageal varices
Cancer of rectum, colon, esophagus,
stomach
Acute and chronic hepatitis
Cirrhosis
Hepatic cancer
Cholelithiasis
Cholangitis
Celiac disease
Irritable bowel syndrome
Anal fissure/fistula
Hemorrhoid
Genitourinary
Benign prostatic
hypertrophy
Prostate cancer
Prostatitis
Acid base disturbances
Acute and chronic renal
failure
Nephritis
Nephritic syndrome
Urinary tract infection
Pyelonephritis
Renal calculi
Glomerulonephritis
Acute interstitial
nephritis
Polycystic kidney disease
Hydronephrosis
Erectile dysfunction
Hydrocele
Varicocele
Testicular torsion
Epididymitis
Bladder cancer
Renal cell carcinoma
Renal vascular disease
Hypovolemia
Hypervolemia
Rheumatology
Fibromyalgia
Gout/pseudogout
Rheumatoid arthritis
Polyarteritis nodosa
Polymyositis
Polymyalgia rheumatic
Reactive arthritis
Systemic lupus
erythematosis
Systemic sclerosis
(scleroderma)
Sjogren syndrome
Revised 10/23/13
TOPICS LIST (cont’d)
Neurology
Seizure disorder
Syncope
Migraine headaches
Tension headaches
Cluster headaches
Transient ischemic attacks
Cerebral vascular accident
Intracranial tumors
Essential tremor
Parkinson disease
Multiple sclerosis
Meningitis
Encephalitis
Coma
Myasthenia gravis
Giant cell arteritis
Bell’s palsy
Guillain-Barre syndrome
Huntington disease
Cerebral aneurysm
Concussion
Delirium
Dementia
Peripheral neuropathies
Complex regional pain syndrome
Hematology
Iron deficiency anemia
Sickle cell anemia
Anemia of chronic disease
Thalassemia
Vitamin B12 and folic acid deficiency
anemia
G6PD deficiency anemia
Acute/chronic leukemia
Lymphoma
Multiple myeloma
Clotting factor disorders
Hypercoagulable state
Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
Infectious Disease
HIV infection
Candidiasis
Cryptococcus
Histoplasmosis
Pneumocystis
Botulism
Chlamydia
Cholera
Diptheria
Gonococcal infections
Salmonellosis
Shigellosis
Tetanus
Pertussis
Tuberculosis
Parasitic infections
Toxoplasmosis
Lyme disease
Rocky mountain spotted fever
Syphilis
Cytomegalovirus
Epstein-Barr infection
Herpes simplex infection
Influenza
Rabies
Varicella Zoster
Endocrinology
Hyperthyroidism/thyroiditis
Hypothyroidism
Diabetes mellitus (Type I
and type II)
Diabetes insipidus
Addison’s disease
Cushing’s disease
Pheochromocytoma
Hypoparathyroidism
Hyperparathyroidism
Acromegaly
Hypocalcemia
Hypercalcemia
Hyponatremia
Hypernatremia
Paget’s disease of the bone
Thyroid cancer
Pituitary adenoma
Revised 10/23/13
Revised 10/23/13