Description:   

This module aims to enable students to take a comprehensive health history from a patient/carer and to develop skills in assessing a patient's physical and mental health. Students will develop advanced physical examination skills and be able to adapt these to the age of the patient, the setting, and any individual needs. Students will then develop the art and science of clinical reasoning, decision making and care planning.   

 The course will use a blend of online and face-to-face teaching, workshops and discussion forums to explore the theory underpinning advanced patient assessment and clinical reasoning. Practical activity will explore advanced clinical assessment and diagnostic skills.

Course content includes:      

• Therapeutic communication and the clinical interview   
• Acquiring a comprehensive health history   
• Mental health assessment   
• Systems based approach to physical assessment   
• Advanced clinical assessment and diagnostic skills   
• Patient centred care   
• Documentation and medico-legal aspects of practice   
• Cognitive bias and sources of error 
•  Developing a diagnosis and differential diagnoses   
• Diagnostic accuracy   
• Clinical reasoning   
• Managing risk

The course is facilitated by UH staff and external experts. The faculty is interprofessional, with staff from paramedic, advanced paramedic and other allied health backgrounds. Whilst exposure to these subject areas is intended to increase understanding and knowledge, it does not change your scope of practice for clinical employment.

Assessment details:

 Written submission worth 60% of the module mark.    

  Practical OSCE stations including written, verbal and practical elements, worth 40% of the module mark.    

Successful students will typically:     

•  Develop an overview of changes across the lifespan in the approach to the examination and expected findings.  
•  Critically evaluate the role of diagnostic tests and procedures in formulation of accurate diagnoses, taking into account human factors and potential sources of error.   
•  Critically synthesise and evaluate current evidence in relation to patient assessment and investigations demonstrating comprehensive clinical examination and assessment skills.   
•  Be skilled in taking an accurate, comprehensive and focused history, including mental health and mental status assessment.   
•  Independently evaluate knowledge and understanding relevant to patient assessment demonstrating.  

What our students say:

‘This is really useful’  ‘...it’s been excellent and I’m going to apply to do more modules..’  

‘I’ve been really impressed with the style of teaching and the collegiate approach to it, it’s been great’  

‘Studying at Hertfordshire has completely changed my outlook on university’