Medical Matters: Becoming an Effective Practitioner or Patient
Healthcare in the US is a highly complex system that everyone will participate in as patients, and some as providers. This seminar will address issues that face professionals in delivering quality care, as well as issues relevant to patients as they make decisions that will affect their health. Topics will reflect this dual challenge: how practitioners approach the art of diagnosis, the communication and cultural hurdles that can exist between practitioners and patients, advocacy by and for patients, how best to allocate limited resources, and the challenges posed by various health disparities. This course will address aspects of health care that are often overlooked in science and content courses, and will encourage students to think about some of the challenges that patients and providers each face in our system. By the end of the course, students will be aware of key topics that affect how we develop, deliver, and experience health care. Grading will be based on pre-class preparation activities, in-class participation, engagement in health simulation activities, reflective writing, and cumulative projects that reflect each students' personal interests.