Course Description

This course provides information about systems physiology and pathophysiology, as well as the epidemiology, etiology, risk factors, pathogenesis, prognosis and treatment of disease, particularly pharmacotherapeutics. Topics covered include cardiopulmonary diseases, infectious diseases, gastroenterology, urology, endocrine and oncology. Lab and specific diagnostic tests will be reviewed.

Credits/Modes of Instruction

Credits:  3

This course is 3-credits and runs 15 weeks, with each week beginning on a Sunday and ending on the following Saturday. This course is a graduate course provided via the internet using the Canvas Platform. Modes of instruction and course format include assigned readings, links to relevant sites on the internet, narrated PowerPoint slideshows (streaming audio or MP3 files), and directed discussion activities, written assignments and real-time video web conferencing meetings to review class materials. All session assignments, PDF formatted handouts, web-conference sessions, video links, podcasts, hyperlinks, readings and other information will be available at the course website or through the University Library Resources website.

Prerequisites

A primer on basic anatomy and physiology.

Course Goals and Outcomes:

Goals

The general goal for this course is to analyze signs and symptoms, diagnostic test results and procedures, laboratory values, and the results of physical examinations to determine the best diagnosis for a patient and to outline the overall medical and pharmacological treatment for that disorder.

Apply knowledge of human physiology and anatomy to conditions of medical illness to explain patient symptoms; Explain the mechanism of action and organ effects of the major drug categories used to treat illnesses; Use evidence based resources to find quality information on new or unfamiliar drugs and medical conditions; Identify adverse drug reactions and/or patterns of medication misuse that need to be reported and identify the appropriate medical intervention; Outline a series of medical interviewing and systems screening questions to identify signs and symptoms of disease and adverse drug effects; Interpret laboratory values and specific test results to help identify patient illness and/or the need for necessary precautions during treatment; Determine patient or client prognoses based on evaluation of results of examinations and medical and psychosocial information; Review the roles of other health care practitioners in treating medical illness.