Program Overview

Course Overview

The Veterinary Physical Diagnosis II course, denoted as LAMS 501, is a comprehensive program designed to instruct students in the fundamentals of physical diagnosis in equine and bovine patients. This course utilizes a variety of diagnostic and system-specific techniques, including hands-on laboratories, simulation laboratories, and case-based teaching, serving as a foundation course for additional clinical skills in later terms.

Course Objectives

The primary objectives of this course are:

• To expand upon the large animal physical examination skills learned in previous courses
• To develop medical math skills
• To introduce basic clinical competencies as well as musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal examination skills
• To review common disease presentations of large animals
• To introduce and practice clinical reasoning skills through didactic lectures, hands-on laboratories, and case simulation
• To allow development of skills related to teamwork and communication during case simulation projects

Course Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

1. Discuss and demonstrate an advanced and complete physical exam on equine and bovine patients.
2. Identify and differentiate between normal and abnormal findings on physical examination, especially related to gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal exams.
3. Determine an animal's age by examining dentition.
4. Safely demonstrate handling of large animals.
5. Accurately perform medical math calculations.
6. Utilize basic clinical reasoning skills to work through a case.

Lesson Learning Outcomes

Each lesson within the course has specific learning outcomes, including but not limited to:

• Describing in detail the various lab modules and expectations of students
• Recognizing and using different systems of measurement
• Converting metric units of measurements
• Recording doses or amounts
• Illustrating appropriate communication skills
• Transforming a client/owner's story into a clinical problem

Alignment with Program Learning Outcomes

The course learning outcomes are aligned with the School of Veterinary Medicine's program learning outcomes, including:

• Core Medical Knowledge: Recall, understand, and adequately utilize multidisciplinary knowledge of basic structures and functions of healthy animals.
• Core Professional Attributes: Demonstrate, evaluate, and model effective communication with clients, the general public, professional colleagues, and responsible authorities.
• Core Clinical Competencies (Skills): Execute a comprehensive patient diagnostic plan and demonstrate problem-solving skills to arrive at a diagnosis.

Course Schedule

The course is structured over several weeks, with each week focusing on different aspects of veterinary physical diagnosis, including:

• Introduction to the course and medical math
• Bovine and equine simulation labs
• Physical examination labs for bovine and equine patients
• Musculoskeletal and gastrointestinal labs for equine and bovine patients
• Paper case introductions and meetings
• OSCE preparation and final exams

Grading and Assessment Policy

The grading for this course is based on:

• Medical math assignment
• Pre-lab quizzes
• Paper case-based group assignment
• Final exam (OSCE for in-person students, written exam for online students) Professionalism is also included in each module and is assessed based on punctuality, appropriate dress, adherence to safety standards, respectful attitude, and engagement during laboratory sessions.

Professionalism Grading Rubric

The professionalism grading rubric assesses students based on:

• Punctuality
• Attendance
• Engagement in labs/quizzes/assignments
• Participation
• Communication
• Appearance and preparation Each criterion is evaluated on a scale, with specific expectations for meeting, partially meeting, or not meeting the criteria.

Recommended Study Strategies

Students are recommended to:

• Prepare for each lab by reviewing resources posted on the course platform
• Complete pre-lab quizzes before each lab
• Use the clinical skills list for review and practice of skills
• Actively participate in paper case forums

Instructor's Expectations

Students are expected to adhere to the guidelines provided throughout the syllabus, including attendance, engagement, assessment submission, and examination policies. Regular checks of the course email and announcements are necessary to stay updated with course changes and deadlines.

Policy Regarding Missing Examinations and Failure of Submission of Assignments

Students who fail to attend an examination or submit an assignment without a valid reason will receive a score of "0" points for the examination. Technical issues during an examination must be immediately reported to the course directors and IT support.

ExamSoft Policy

All students are responsible for knowing and complying with the University's Code of Conduct and guidelines for ExamSoft. This includes having a laptop that meets the minimum system requirements, downloading and registering the latest version of Examplify, and familiarizing themselves with the software before exam day.

Copyright Policy

The materials provided to students are the intellectual property of the Faculty and/or Administration of St. George's University. Students are free to use these materials solely for the purpose of group or individual study, but reproduction in whole or in part is prohibited.