Undergraduate Medical Education (UME) Program Outcomes

The comprehensive medical curriculum at WVSOM facilitates the mastery of seven osteopathic core competencies that are necessary for students to develop into caring and compassionate physicians who excel in their field. These program outcomes are measured through a variety of assessment methods including course exams, lab practicals, team-based learning activities and national board exams.

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

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 health 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.

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.

Osteopathic Patient Care

Provide patient-centered care that is culturally competent, 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 psychosocial 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 competent, 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.

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, patients’ families, other members of the 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 health care 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, socioeconomic 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.

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.