By the end of the 9-week placement the students will be able to elicit a problem-oriented medical history, perform a pertinent physical examination, obtain and interpret indicated lab studies, formulate a management plan and implement appropriate therapy for common general medical problems. The student may have some areas of weakness but will, overall, be safe.  

History Taking and Consultation Skills

The student will be able to obtain and record a complete and accurate medical history from any patient.

Physical Examination

The student will be able to perform an appropriate physical examination, distinguish normal from abnormal physical findings and comprehensively record findings in a logical and systematic way.

Clinical Judgement in Diagnosis and Management

The student will use laboratory and diagnostic studies appropriately to support or modify tentative diagnostic impressions.

Therapeutics and Prescribing

Utilising pharmacologic therapy, with an understanding of the indications, contraindications, major side-effects/adverse reactions and correct dosing schedules for medications commonly used in general medicine.

Clinical Planning and Procedures

The student will analyse information obtained from the history, physical exam, diagnostic tests, and procedures to recognise and diagnose common conditions in the adult patient, formulate a problem list, develop a comprehensive, prioritised differential diagnosis and utilise all available clinical data to accurately determine the diagnosis.

Below is an extensive but not exhaustive list of conditions that PA students are encouraged to see by the end of their 6 week rotation in General Medicine. Once qualified, PAs are expected to diagnose a patient on initial presentation with these conditions and will not usually require further referral. 

Students will be able to describe for each of these conditions:

1.       Signs and symptoms

2.       Cause and natural history

3.       Diagnostic lab tests

4.       Appropriate therapeutic and management consideration

Cardiovascular

• Hypertension; essential, isolated

• Hypotension; Orthostatic, postural

• Vascular Diseases; phlebitis, thrombophlebitis

Neurological

• Bell's Palsy

• Essential Tremor

• Headaches; Migraine, Tension, Cluster

• Shingles

• Syncope

Infections

• Fungal disease

• Bacterial 

• Parasitic; malaria, dengue

• Viral

Respiratory

• Acute bronchitis

• Influenza

• Bacterial and viral pneumonia

• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

• Asthma

• Emphysema

Endocrine and Metabolic disorders

• Hypthyroid

• Type 2 Diabetes

• Hypogylcaemia

• Hypercholesterolaemia

• Hypo/hypernatreamia

• Hypo/hypercalcaemia

• Hypo/hyperkalaemia

• Volume depletion

Gastro-Intestinal

• Oesophagitis

• GORD

• Gastritis

• Peptic ulcer disease

• IBS

• Constipation

• Faecal impaction 

• Infectious diarrhoea

• Haemorrhoids

• Dyspepsia

• Gastroenteritis

• Acute poisoning 

Renal and GU 

• Benign Prostate Hyperplasia

• Cystitis

• Balanitis

• Prostatitis

• Epididymitis

• Ureteric trauma

• Renal injury

• Acute/chronic urinary retention

Palliative Care

• End of Life

Haematological

• Anaemia

• Vitamin B12/folate deficiency 

• Iron deficiency

• Nutritional anaemia  

Rheumatological

• Fibromyalgia

• Gout 

• Polymyalgia Rheumatica 

Musculoskeletal 

• Osteoarthritis 

• Osteoperosis