Undergraduate Medical Education (UME) Program Outcomes

Osteopathic Principles and Practice (OPP) and Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment (OMT)

Candidates must be able to demonstrate knowledge of osteopathic principles and practice, and to apply knowledge of somatic dysfunction diagnosis and Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment in the clinical setting. Upon graduation from WVSOM all students will be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of OPP and OMT, and apply it to all patients, with an emphasis on the needs of rural and underserved areas.
• Apply knowledge of OPP and OMT across a variety of clinical settings.
• Describe the interrelationship of body structure and function in the delivery of whole person heath care.
• Describe how the human body’s self-healing and self-regulatory mechanisms affect treatment options.
• Articulate the scientific knowledge supporting the use of OPP and OMT, including the basic science of the mechanisms and evidence-based clinical application of OMT in the diagnosis and treatment of somatic dysfunction in the various regions of the body.
• Name and describe the types of OMT, identifying their indications and contraindications, and articulating their relative value, advantages and disadvantages.

Osteopathic Patient Care

Provide patient-centered care that is culturally responsive, compassionate, and appropriate for the effective treatment of illness and promotion of health. Upon graduation from WVSOM all students will be able to:

• Obtain a complete and focused patient history, to include belief systems, and psycho-social and cultural, and integrate this information into the comprehensive care of the patient, without respect to age, gender, gender identity, sex, sexual orientation, race, color, creed religion, handicap, or national origin.
• Provide patient-centered care that is culturally responsive, compassionate, osteopathically oriented, and appropriate for the effective treatment of illness, prevention of disease and promotion of health.
• Conduct relevant, complete, and focused physical and mental status examinations.
• Perform osteopathic structural examination and OMT as well as other common medical procedures with attention to patient safety and comfort.
• Identify and provide appropriate initial care for life-threatening medical conditions.
• Engage patients and family members as partners in health care through effective patient education and counseling.
• Integrate OPP and OMT into the treatment, management, and prevention of illnesses.
• Demonstrate the ability to incorporate health promotion, screening, and disease prevention into the care of patients.

Medical Knowledge for Osteopathic Medical Practice

Demonstrate an understanding and application of the evolving osteopathic, biomedical, clinical, epidemiological, biomechanical, and social sciences to optimize patient care. Upon graduation from WVSOM all students will be able to:

• Apply the foundational scientific basis of the normal structure, development, function, and relationships among the organ systems of the body to concepts of health and disease.
• Apply principles of pathophysiology to diseases and disorders.
• Apply pharmacological principles to medical therapeutics.
• Appraise the role of normal human biological, cognitive, psychological, and behavioral development across the lifespan as determinants and influences of health and illness.
• Accurately interpret the clinical, laboratory, pathologic and radiologic manifestations of health and common diseases.
• Engage in a systematic approach to clinical reasoning to solve clinical problems in the context of osteopathic principles.
• Apply the scientific foundations of medicine to the practice of evidence-based medicine.
• Recognize indications and contraindications of medical therapeutics, complementary, alternative, integrative medical treatments, and surgical interventions.
• Describe the principles of the scientific method and translational research as they apply to caring for patients.

Practice-Based Learning and Improvement in Osteopathic Medicine

Demonstrate the ability to continuously evaluate patient care practices, scientific evidence and personal beliefs and biases as they relate to improving the care of patients and optimizing patient outcomes. Upon graduation from WVSOM all students will be able to:

• Utilize fundamental epidemiologic concepts, clinical decision-making skills, evidence-based medicine principles and practices, and biomedical informatics resources to locate and evaluate the relevance, validity, quality, and clinical significance of research information.
• Model how new scientific findings can be incorporated into patient care.
• Develop a systematic methodology for integrating practice-based improvements into one's own clinical practice.
• Critically appraise the effectiveness of diagnostic testing and therapeutic interventions.
• Employ strategies for seeking out and integrating feedback from patients and colleagues to identify competency in performance, selecting appropriate educational opportunities to correct deficits and improve performance.
• Utilize self-reflection as a method of continuous self-assessment to enhance self-awareness through identification of one's own strengths and challenges in order to improve one's performance and guide life-long learning.

Interpersonal and Communication Skills in the Practice of Osteopathic Medicine

Demonstrate the ability to consistently interact respectfully, empathetically, and professionally with patients, families, allied health care providers, staff, and colleagues, to optimize patient outcomes. Upon graduation from WVSOM all students will be able to:

• Establish positive, professional, and productive relationships with patients, the patients’ families, other members of health care team, and the community through respectful and effective information exchange.
• Demonstrate appropriate strategies for engaging patients and their families in difficult conversations (e.g. end-of-life, medical errors, serious diagnosis, etc.).
• Demonstrate an awareness of each patient's cultural and spiritual beliefs, and health literacy level across all interactions and communications.
• Demonstrate shared decision-making techniques when communicating with patients, families, and allied healthcare providers.
• Effectively negotiate conflicts within the health care team to optimize patient outcomes.

Professionalism in the Practice of Osteopathic Medicine

Demonstrate a commitment to the highest standards in the conduct of professional responsibilities, adherence to ethical principles and culturally-aware responsiveness to diverse beliefs and customs. Upon graduation from WVSOM all students will be able to:

• Demonstrate knowledge of the behavioral and social science concepts that encompasses professional behaviors and attitudes (e.g. humanistic behaviors; responsiveness to the needs of patients that supersedes self-interest; accountability to patients, society and the profession, etc.).
• Demonstrate respect, sensitivity and responsible behavior to people of all gender identities, skin colors, ethnicities, ages, sexual orientations, religious affiliations, socio-economic statuses, and abilities.
• Demonstrate a commitment to personal cultivation and ongoing professional development through lifelong learning.
• Demonstrate respect for patients, families, allied health care providers, staff and colleagues, etc. through the consistent application of ethical principles in practice and research.
• Promote the ethical behavior of peers and organizations; intercede when unethical actions are encountered.
• Identify personal and professional conflicts of interest.
• Demonstrate a spirit of progressive cooperation with colleagues and show respect for their rightful practices.
• Acknowledge the contribution of those who have educated them.
• Recognize signs and symptoms of physician impairment, and utilize wellness resources available.

Health Care Delivery and Systems-Based Practice in Osteopathic Medicine

Demonstrate an awareness of, and responsibility to, the larger context and system of health care, and effectively utilize its available resources to provide optimal health care and value to the individual patient and local and global communities. Upon graduation from WVSOM all students will be able to:

• Appreciate the complexity of the larger environment in which health care occurs (e.g. payment, regulatory, legal and educational systems).
• Describe and analyze how health care is currently organized, financed and delivered. Promote improvements to this process whenever possible.
• Identify the resources available in the health care system in order to maximize the health of the individual and the community-at-large, especially in the context of underserved areas.
• Describe the role of advocacy and health care policy in improving patient care and optimizing patient outcomes.
• Assist patients and family members in their understanding of applicable healthcare benefits, coverage limits, and utilization management procedures.
• Synthesize information concerning the health of patient populations and communities to identify needs and develop appropriate supportive interventions.
• Apply principles of evidence-based, cost-conscious, and cost-effective health care to optimize patient outcomes.
• Delineate those components of the health care system that create barriers to access and lead to disparities in health care provision.
• Analyze the current organization, financing, and delivery of health care in the U.S.
• Describe the role of medical jurisprudence and commercial endeavors as they relate to conflicts of interest in the health care system.
• Employ telehealth applications when needed to ensure patient access to appropriate care and to deliver healthcare.

Social Accountability in the Practice of Osteopathic Medicine

Prioritize and address community health outcomes through civic engagement, ethical leadership, and global social responsibility while delivering equitable and sustainable health care based on the tenets of social accountability. Upon graduation from WVSOM all students will be able to:

• Define, explain, and apply the principle of social accountability in the practice of osteopathic medicine in clinical and community settings.
• Define, explain, and apply principles of social justice to healthcare in the practice of osteopathic medicine in clinical and community settings.
• Identify, explain, and apply the osteopathic physician’s commitment to health equity in service to underserved, vulnerable, disenfranchised, and special populations.
• Identify, explain, and apply basic public health principles, practices, and sciences to the practice of osteopathic medicine in clinical and community settings at the levels of the individual patient, family, community and society.
• Examine, explain, and integrate principles of civic engagement, ethical leadership, and health advocacy, and global social responsibility in the practice of osteopathic medicine in clinical and community settings.
• Assess and address the factors influencing the use of health services.
• Explain how the health care system relates to Medicare, Medicaid, insurance, and community health centers and the osteopathic physicians’ role as health advocate.
• Examine and influence health policy-making efforts at the local and national levels.

Mental Health and Wellness in the Practice of Osteopathic Medicine

Partner with healthcare consumers, family members, and behavioral health and primary care providers to integrate the experience and expertise of the team into the provision of mental health and wellness services across the lifespan. Upon graduation from WVSOM all students will be able to:

• Exhibit leadership by directing, guiding, or influencing the collaboration and mental health service delivery of the healthcare team.
• Clearly convey relevant information in a non-judgmental manner about behavioral health using person-centered concepts and terms.
• Use strengths-based wellness, resilience, and recovery models in conceptualizing the mental wellness and care of patients.
• Implement focused interventions to engage patients and families and increase their desire to improve health (e.g., motivational interviewing, motivational enhancement therapy).
• Safeguard patient privacy and confidentiality with respect to communication, documentation, and data.
• Identify the role of the osteopathic physician in addressing the medical consequences of common social and public health factors (such as racial, socioeconomic and cultural factors that affect access to and quality of care) that contribute to the burden of disease.

UME Core Competencies

The following reflects the knowledge and attributes expected of our students upon successful completion of the medical curriculum.

Educational Learning Outcomes

To complete the degree of Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, the student will be able to demonstrate the following:

Osteopathic Principles and Practices

Demonstrate knowledge of the osteopathic philosophy, general precepts, and principles; demonstrate the requisite skills to address patient issues and concerns; apply knowledge of somatic dysfunction diagnosis; and apply appropriate osteopathic manipulative treatment in the clinical setting.

Medical Knowledge

Demonstrate the understanding and application of biomedical, clinical, epidemiologic, biomechanical, and social and behavioral sciences in the context of patient-centered care.

Patient Care

Demonstrate the ability to determine and monitor the nature of a patient's concern or problem, using a patient-centered approach that is appropriate to the age of the patient, level of health literacy, and culture. He/she must be able to provide safe patient care that incorporates a strong fund of applied medical knowledge and best medical evidence, osteopathic principles and practices, sound clinical judgment, and patient and family preferences.

Interpersonal and Communication Skills

Demonstrate the knowledge, behaviors, and attitudes that facilitate accurate and efficient information gathering, empathetic rapport building and effective information giving in interactions with patients, families, and other members of health care teams.

Professionalism

Demonstrate knowledge of the behavioral and social sciences that underpin the professionalism competency, i.e. humanistic behavior; responsiveness to the needs of patients that supersedes self-interest; accountability to patients, society, and the profession; a commitment to excellence and ongoing professional development; knowledge and application of ethical principles in practice and research; and awareness and proper attention to the issues within cultural competency.

Practice-Based Learning and Improvement

Demonstrate the ability to describe and apply fundamental biostatistical epidemiologic concepts, clinical decision-making skills, evidence-based medicine principles and practices, fundamental information mastery skills, methods to evaluate relevance and validity of research information, and the clinical significance of research evidence.

Systems-Based Practice

Demonstrate awareness of and responsiveness to the larger context and system of health care, and effectively identify system resources to maximize the health of the individual and the community or population at large.

NOTE: All the above should include knowledge and skills relevant to rural medicine and primary care, where appropriate.