ASDO 6000 - Fundamentals of Patient Management 2A

7 credit hours

Pharmacology: This course expands upon the basic principles of pharmacology taught in Basic Science Core Pharmacology. Content includes the rationale for use of specific drugs, drug indications/contraindications and drug interactions of major drug classes used to treat common systemic conditions, with an emphasis on drug classes of significance to dentistry. Topics include antibiotics, analgesics, drugs used for neuropsychiatric conditions, and drugs used to manage/treat cardiovascular disease. Basic principles of toxicology are reviewed, with an application to chemotherapy and radiation therapy used to treat cancer. In addition, students learn basic principles of prescription writing with application to prescribing in dentistry.

Patient Management Cases- Treatment Planning I: This comprehensive course focuses on the systematic assessment, diagnosis, and treatment planning essential for patient care in a dental setting. Students will explore techniques for obtaining medical/dental histories, performing thorough head, neck, and oral examinations, and evaluating vital signs. A core component involves applying knowledge of normal and pathologic processes to develop differential diagnoses and generating ideal and alternative, optimally sequenced treatment plans. The module also emphasizes integrating clinical and basic science information, managing patients with systemic diseases and compromising conditions, determining prognosis, obtaining informed consent, and implementing strategies to prevent complications and medical emergencies in general practice.

Cultural Proficiency: This module aims to continue to expand on the concept of Cultural Proficiency and reviewing the guiding principles, essential elements, and the development continuum, while also addressing common barriers. A primary goal is to equip students with the methods, techniques, and models necessary to work effectively in diverse professional settings by enhancing their ability to identify different components of cross-cultural communication and successfully bridge communication barriers with culturally varied populations.

Practice Management: The purpose of this module is to convey knowledge in dental management and economics. The program is designed to provide basic skills in business decision-making and practice management. The curriculum deliberately promotes early consideration of certain unexplored and unfamiliar personal and dental practice issues to allow sufficient time to build awareness, knowledge, and mindset for required competencies. In the Dental Practice Ready (DPR) program utilized for much of the content delivery and assessment, Level 1 describes career opportunities, introduces strategic planning as a way to address personal and professional challenges, and creates familiarity with financial statements and procedures. Levels 2 and 3 use the strategic planning and finance principles learned at Level 1 to develop problem-solving skills needed when practicing dentistry in the real world as owners, associates, employees, public administrators, or military personnel. Level 4 concludes the dental practice program. It offers advice on how to select a practice location, addresses many frequently asked questions on the transition to practice, introduces sources of information on financial and economic trends that affect the dental profession, and guides the application of knowledge and skills acquired in previous years to produce a professional business plan that could be used in attaining financial support for starting a dental practice.