Time Schedule:
William R Phillips
FAMED 530
Seattle Campus
Introduces primary care, the foundation of medical care and cornerstone of healthcare reform. Addresses history, clinical content, practitioner workforce, delivery models, research methods, and policy issues. Explores the role of primary care in personal and population health. Includes lectures, discussions, student presentations, and practice observation. Prerequisite: permission of course coordinator.
Class description
This course is an interdisciplinary introduction to primary care. We will address history, clinical content, practitioner workforce, delivery models, research methods and policy issues. Our discussion will focus on the principles of primary care and emphasize the unique perspective of the primary care professional. We will explore the role of primary care in personal and population health. This is not a clinical course, but will supplement clinical training in health professions. It will also help inform education, management, policy and research in primary care services.
Student learning goals
Define primary care.
Describe the principles of primary care and their value to patients, populations and healthcare systems.
Identify the professionals who provide primary care and describe the training, credentialing and scope of practice of each.
Describe the clinical content of primary care and distinguish the role primary care clinicians from those of other specialists.
Discuss the major challenges to primary care in the US healthcare environment, contributing factors and potential solutions.
General method of instruction
We will use instructor presentations, classroom discussions, online student reflections, student presentations and practice observations.
Recommended preparation
This course is aimed at a diverse group of students planning careers in primary care practice, research and policy and related fields. These include all health professions schools (dentistry, medicine, nursing, pharmacy, public health, social work), social sciences, public policy, business and related fields. No prerequisites. It can be taken before or after clinical courses.
Class assignments and grading
Each student will visit and observe a primary care practice in the community for one half-day and write a brief report.
Students will work individually or in teams to complete an abstract, written report and optional presentation on a topic of special interest related to primary care practice, education, research or policy.
Required for course completion: 1. Completion of pre- and post-course surveys, and 2. Completion of course evaluation
Grading: Contributions to classroom discussion - 20%, Contributions to online discussion - 20%, Written report on practice observation - 20%, Student Project - 20%, Midterm written exam - 10%, Final written exam - 10%, TOTAL - 100%.
Credit/No-Credit will be determined by global assessment of the student’s mastery of course content, contribution to class discussions and quality of written work and project. Professional level work is expected. Ethical scholarly conduct is required.
