Medical Student SHSU-COM Spring, Texas, United States
Objectives: We propose an educational model for the integration of dedicated physical medicine modules within medical school curricula. Physical medicine, encompassing therapies such as physical therapy and speech therapy, is often pivotal in managing diverse medical conditions and chronic disabilities, is often underrepresented in traditional medical education.
Design: The proposed model aims to address this gap by incorporating modules that educate medical students on what physical medicine encompasses, its use in clinical practice, and its efficacy as both a primary and adjunctive treatment to traditional medical and pharmacologic modalities. By familiarizing students with its principles and applications, the model intends to enrich their understanding of holistic patient care. It also equips them with skills to collaborate effectively with rehabilitation specialists.
Key components include a comprehensive curriculum covering the basics of physical medicine, hands-on training in rehabilitation techniques, exposure to interdisciplinary teamwork, and clinical rotations in rehabilitation
Results: Implementation in medical school curricula has the potential for substantial benefits. By incorporating this model, we hypothesize there will be increased awareness of the field as a whole, as well as in alternative treatment modalities - potentially leading to future research, interest in the field, and utilization of physical medicine services. This aligns with the evolving healthcare landscape, where non-pharmacological and non-invasive therapies are gaining recognition both within the medical community itself as well as among patients themselves.
Conclusions: In conclusion, this model presents an innovative approach to medical education by incorporating physical medicine. It empowers students to become well-rounded physicians capable of delivering comprehensive care, while ultimately having the goal of enhancing healthcare quality, patient outcomes, and patient satisfaction. Further research is necessary to fully realize the benefits including physical medicine in education and the further effects in clinical practice and in increasing awareness of the field amongst medical students and even physicians.
