The Palmer Chiropractic Abilities
Palmer
College of Chiropractic recognizes the need to maintain an optimum
learning environment through a sustained commitment to excellence and
continual improvement. The Palmer Chiropractic Abilities emphasize
Palmer’s role in providing an innovative, dynamic and exciting community
of diverse learners and scholars.
Effective Communication
The
competent Palmer graduate demonstrates effective verbal, nonverbal and
written communication skills with appropriate sensitivity, expressivity
and control for a wide range of health care related activities,
including patient care, intra and interprofessional communications
(e.g., consultation, concurrent care and referral), health education,
and record-keeping and reporting. The graduate is skilled in
communicating to a variety of audiences including single patients and
public forums.
Professional Growth and Lifelong Learning
The
competent Palmer graduate, recognizing the limitations of his/her
knowledge and experience, seeks to gain and apply new knowledge and
skill. The graduate is information and technology literate and adapts to
change. The graduate demonstrates a willingness to contribute
positively to the community, society, the body politic and the
chiropractic profession.
Moral Reasoning and Professional Ethics
The
competent Palmer graduate practices personal integrity through moral
decision-making and accepts responsibility for the consequences of
his/her actions. The graduate acknowledges the existence and nature of
different value systems of patients and others. The graduate recognizes
the ethical dimensions of clinical practice and the choices necessary to
maintain his/her own ethical integrity.
Critical Thinking and Problem Solving
The
competent Palmer graduate identifies problems and their cause(s), and
applies a logical decision-making process to manage them. Alone and
collaboratively, the graduate formulates successful strategies for
various situations. The graduate applies critical thinking to
problem-solving and clinical reasoning.
Philosophy and History of Chiropractic
The
competent Palmer graduate explores, understands, and critically
assesses the work of influential thinkers in the history and philosophy
of chiropractic and compares and contrasts chiropractic with other
health care approaches. The graduate recognizes the impact of the role
of chiropractic in the past, present and future health care environment
and is able to convey the philosophical construct of chiropractic to
multiple audiences. The graduate uses reasoned dialogue and logical
argumentation when challenging traditional assumptions of health and
adapts his/her thinking to new knowledge.
Integrating Basic Science into the Practice of Chiropractic
The
competent Palmer graduate demonstrates fundamental understanding of
anatomy and physiology and synthesizes basic science knowledge to
explain health-related issues. The graduate explains current concepts in
subluxation theory and models and conceptually interprets
pathophysiology using current scientific understanding.
Patient Evaluation Skills
The
competent Palmer graduate gathers health data through application of
fundamental clinical skills (e.g., history, regional examination, spinal
examination, and lab) and applies reasoning to formulate a clinical
diagnosis with differentials. The graduate applies best
practices/evidence-based use of diagnostic tools, procedures and
decision making.
Patient Management Skills
The
competent Palmer graduate applies principles of case management,
integrating care with other health professions when appropriate. The
graduate demonstrates effective skeletal adjusting skills and
understands the role of rehabilitative and supportive exercise and
nutrition in improving health. The graduate promotes health improvement,
wellness and disease prevention through appropriate care and education.
The graduate recognizes and practices within the boundaries of
medico-legal issues associated with patient care.
Health Care in Social and Community Contexts
The
competent Palmer graduate understands epidemiological principles
regarding the nature and identification of health issues in diverse
populations and recognizes the impact of psychosocial and environmental
factors on general health. The graduate understands the role of
chiropractic in healthcare from a sociological perspective and
accommodates diverse populations and environments in providing
individualized patient care.
Business Management
The
competent Palmer graduate understands legal and malpractice
implications of decision-making and applies principles and practices of
business management, financial management, marketing, insurance
reporting, and managed care in a legal and ethical manner.