Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Emergency Medicine: Clinical History and Semiology
Teaching staff
Students may ask lecturers questions at the end of each class. For enquiries outside of class time, students must make an appointment by email:
Teacher responsible for the subject (CReA): Dr. José Zorrilla Riveiro
Ask for interview at jgzorrilla@uic.es
Associated professors:
Marco Antonio Bustamante: mbustamante@uic.es
Josep Tost 30099tjv@comb.cat
Introduction
The European Society of Emergency Medicine (EuSEM) define this area of learning as the one based in the knowledge and skills required for prevention, diagnosis and treatment of all kind of emergencies, either illnesses and traumatisms that affect patients of all ages with a wide spectrum of physical and cognitive disorders. In this specialty time is always critical.
If we analyze what has been the evolution of undergraduate teaching, we will observe that, during the last years, and in an increasing way, the Spanish medical schools have been introducing in their curriculum the subject of Emergency Medicine. Thus, in Spain, in 2010, this subject was taught in 22 of the 35 medical schools. It is currently studied in 38 of the 42 medical schools in Spain.
Since its inception in 2008, the Universitat Internacional de Catalunya (UIC) has included in its teaching programme the subject of emergencies and emergencies. This is included as a compulsory course subject.
In our country, the medical specialty in emergencies has recently been approved in the year 2024, with the aim of offering the first MIR residents in this specialty in 2026.
The International Federation of Emergency Medicine (IFEM) delineated a model for teaching Emergency Medicine for undergraduate students of Medicine. This model requires a huge amount of hours, which we have adapted to the level and time available in our University.
Pre-course requirements
To enroll in the course, the student must have passed all the subjects of previous courses
The student should have the basic knowledge about the different pathologic conditions that appear in the organism.
Objectives
- Learning a fundamental knowledge on medicine applied in emergencies and the ability of evaluating and immediately treating the most common emergency conditions.
- Learning the skills of basic vital support, including diagnosis, first treatment and basic related skills.
- Learning the Advanced Life Support skills.
- Learning the skills for differentiate and treat common acute symptoms.
- Learning the severity criteria for each acute problem in emergency medicine.
- Learning the management of severe traumatisms, including mobilization and fixation, initial assessment and secondary assessment.
- Learning the basic skills in procedures as airway management and venous catheterization.
- Learning triage of patients with the most urgent conditions.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- 07 - Understand and recognise normal structure and function of the human body at the molecular, cellular, tissue, and organ and systemetic levels, at different stages of life and in both sexes.
- 09 - Understand and recognize the effects, mechanisms and manifestations of disease on the structure and function of the human body.
- 10 - To understand and recognise the agents and risk factors which determine health status, and learn how they determine the symptoms and natural development of acute or chronic diseases in individuals and populations.
- 12 - Understanding the foundations for action, the indications and efficacy of therapeutic interventions, based on available scientific evidence.
- 13 - Obtain and develop a clinical history that contains all relevant information.
- 15 - Ability to formulate an initial diagnosis and establish a rationalised diagnostic strategy.
- 16 - Recognize and deal with situations that put life in immediate danger and those that require immediate attention.
- 17 - Establish the diagnosis, prognosis and treatment, applying principles based on the best information possible and safe clinical practice..
- 18 - To indicate the most appropriate (pharmacological, surgical, psychological, social or other) treatments that are pertinent to the most prevalent procedures, in terms of rehabilitation and also terminally ill patients, including an evaluation of their effectiveness.
- 21 - Listen carefully, obtain and synthesize relevant information about the problems affecting the patient and understand the contents of this information.
Learning outcomes of the subject
- Support the relevance of questions in history and examination features.
- Build a differential diagnosis about the symptoms and signs of the patient as to ascribe to a single syndrome most commonly observed in emergency medicine.
- Discuss surgical decisions when indicated.
- Draw a therapeutic plan in Emergency based on the pathologic features upon arrival.
- Apply the resuscitation skills.
Syllabus
Chapter 1. Urgencies and emergencies. Definition and assessment. Clinical reasoning in emergencies. (Masterclass. Online class). Dr. José Zorrilla.
Chapter 2. Criteria of severity of the patient in the emergency room. Activation codes. The emergency. (Masterclass. Online class). Dr. Josep Tost
Chapter 3. Assessment of patients with respiratory diestress (Skills Lab) Dr. Josep Tost
Chapter 4. Assessment of patients with palpitations. (Skills Lab) Dr. Marco Bustamante .
Chapter 5. Assessment of patients with chest pain. (Case Method).Dr. Marco Bustamante .
Chapter 6. Assessment of patients with abdominal pain. (Case Method). Dr. Marco Bustamante
Chapter 7. Patients with acute alteration of consciousness and assessment the comatose patient. (Case Method).Dr. Marco Bustamante
Chapter 8. The politrauma patient. Initial assessment. (Masterclass) Dr. Jose Zorrilla.
Chapter 9. Moblization of trauma patients (Skills Lab). Dr. José Zorrilla.
Chapter 10. Sepsis and septic shock. (Case Method). Dr. Marco Bustamante
Chapter 11. Emergency related to glycemic descompensation. (Case Method). Dr. José Zorrilla.
Chapter 12. Interdisciplinary approach (doctor-nursing) for breathlessness patient. (with Medicine and Nursing students). (Skills Lab) Dra. Montserrat Virumbrales
Teaching and learning activities
In person
Evaluation:
- Participation in class: communication skills, reasoning skills and basic knowledge are evaluated. 5% of the final grade.
- Final exam. It consists of:
- Multiple choice exam. Mistakes discount 1/3 of the value of the questions (as in MIR). 80% of the final grade.
- Practical, in which the student will have to demonstrate the skills acquired in the clinical simulation laboratory. Attendance at laboratory practices is mandatory in order to be evaluated. 15% of the final grade.
FINAL QUALIFICATION
Sum of class participation (5%), Final Test (80%) and Final Practice (15%)
It is necessary to pass the final exam (Test) and the practical one, separately, with a grade = or > of 5, in order to pass the course. The % will not be applied if both parts are not passed separately.
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
Evaluation:
- Participation in class: communication skills, reasoning skills and basic knowledge are evaluated. 5% of the final grade.
- Final exam. It consists of:
- Multiple choice exam. Mistakes discount 1/3 of the value of the questions (as in MIR). This has the valiu of the 80% of the final grade.
- Practical, in which the student will have to demonstrate the skills acquired in the clinical simulation laboratory. Attendance at laboratory practices is mandatory in order to be evaluated. 15% of the final grade.
FINAL QUALIFICATION
Sum of class participation (5%), Final Test (80%) and Final Practice (15%)
It is necessary to pass the final exam (Test) and the practical one, separately, with a grade = or > of 5, in order to pass the course. The % will not be applied if both parts are not passed separately.
Evaluation:
Final examination. It consists of:
a. Type test. Errors deduct 1/3 of the question value (Mir Type). 80% of the final grade.
b. Practical, in which the student will have to demonstrate the skills acquired in the clinical simulation laboratory. These practical parts will be assessed in the form of simulation situations in the ECOE exam. It is essential to attend laboratory practices to be evaluated. This practical part represents 20% of the final grade
FINAL GRADE
Weighted sum of 80% of the grade of the theoretical exam plus 20% of the practical.
It is necessary to pass the final exam (Test) and the practical one, separately, with a grade equal to or greater than 5, to be able to pass the subject. % shall not be applied if both parts are not exceeded separately.
In second and successive calls you will not be able to opt for outstanding or registration.
Bibliography and resources
-
· J. Tintinalli, G. Kelen, J. Stapcynski. URGENCIAS DE MEDICINA. De la American College of Emergency Physicians. McGrau Hill.
· J. Lloret, J.Muñoz, V. Artigas, L.H. Allende, G. Vazquez. PROTOCOLOS TERAPÉUTICOS DE URGENCIAS. Ed. Masson
· L. Jiménez Murillo, F.J. Montero Pérez. MEDICINA DE URGENCIAS Y EMERGENCIAS. GUÍA DIAGNÓSTICA Y PROTOCOLOS DE ACTUACIÓN. Ed. Elsevier.
· Quesada, J.M. Rabanal. PROCEDIMIENTOS TÉCNICOS EN URGENCIAS Y EMERGENCIAS. Ed. Ergon.
· Quesada, J.M. Rabanal. ACTUALIZACIÓN EN EL MANEJO DEL TRAUMA GRAVE. Ed Ergon
Evaluation period
- E1 17/12/2024 I2 14:00h
- E1 17/12/2024 I1 14:00h
- E1 17/12/2024 I3 14:00h
- R1 28/01/2025 A02 14:30h