Palmer College of Chiropractic Florida

Academics

D.C. Curriculum

• Curriculum by Quarter

• Course Descriptions

The curriculum focuses on the teaching and subsequent evaluation of student performance in 14 areas of clinical competency required by the Council on Chiropractic Education (CCE), plus six additional areas originally defined by Palmer. These competencies along with the Palmer Abilities present our vision of the specific knowledge, skills and attitudes that will be demonstrated by all Palmer graduates.

Competencies for the Chiropractic Graduate:

CCE Competencies:

• History Taking
• Physical Examination
• Neuromusculoskeletal Examination
• The Psychosocial Assessment
• Diagnostic Studies
• Diagnosis or Clinical Impression
• Case Management
• Adjusting Competencies
• Emergency Care Competencies
• Case Follow-up and Review
• Record Keeping
• The Doctor-Patient Relationship
• Professional Issues
• Non-adjustive Therapeutic Procedures

Additional Clinical Competencies Identified by Palmer College of Chiropractic:

• Patient Wellness and Public Health Issues
• Nutrition
• Patient Education
• Business Management Issues
• Chiropractic History and Philosophy
• Information Literacy

Each of the competencies has associated with it a cognitive, an affective and a psychomotor component. For example, a student studying radiology examination should, among other things, be able to demonstrate knowledge of the various physical and chemical processes involved in taking an X-ray, demonstrate an attitudinal awareness of the patient’s apprehensions and discomfort, and demonstrate the capability to select a proper exposure technique.

The PCCF program is sequenced into tracks. Each track consists of a sequence of courses over successive terms. Learning activities include small group active learning sessions, laboratory and clinical experiences with lectures designed to synthesize learning objectives.

Structure of the Human: (Quarters 1-9) Includes disciplines of gross anatomy, osteology spinal anatomy, neuroanatomy, histology, embryology, radiology including normal radiographic anatomy, radiological physics, procedures and positioning, and diagnosis. Laboratory components include both prosected anatomy lab sessions, and dry anatomy lab sessions incorporating digital imaging, Primal Pictures anatomical software and anatomical models.

Function of the Human: (Quarters 1-9) Includes disciplines of physiology, biochemistry pathology, microbiology, nutrition, biomechanics, radiological interpretation, physical assessment, emergency procedures and diagnosis. Laboratory components include physical examination skills, first aid and CPR instruction, and analysis and interpretation of clinical laboratory evaluations.

Caring for the Human: (Quarters 1-9) Evaluating the patient for chiropractic care, focusing on the identification and correction of the Vertebral Subluxation Complex (VSC). Patient Interview (history taking skills) comprehensive chiropractic analysis and full spine, upper cervical and extremity adjusting procedures utilizing the Palmer Package, physiotherapeutics, radiological interpretation and analysis, data synthesis of the comprehensive patient assessment, integration of data to aid in developing a clinical impression, decision-making for care, protocols for delivery of care, developing and maintaining caring relationships that foster patient satisfaction and positive health outcomes and practicing from a caring, healing ethical perspective that supports the Palmer Tenets and preserves the dignity and integrity of the patient. Courses focusing on the care for special populations such as pediatrics, geriatrics and for gender-related issues are designed to ensure that the student is appropriately trained to provide competent care and to support wellness through the full spectrum of developmental phases of life. Hands-on laboratory components within the Caring for the Human track include Technique labs, Radiology labs, Active and Passive Care labs, and Clinical Rotations within the Palmer Florida Clinics.

Clinic: (Quarters 9-13) The fourth year of the program focus on patient management in a supervised clinical setting. Students spend 25 to 30 hours per week participating in the Palmer Florida Clinic facilities providing care under the supervision of licensed faculty clinicians. This clinical internship provides the student the opportunity to focus on the refinement of patient management skills and professional development of skills necessary for success in practice. In the final quarter, students have a variety of opportunities as part of the Practice Development Quarter (PDQ).

Foundations for Practice: (Quarters 1-13) Foundations for practice incorporates a broad spectrum of competencies designed to provide a strong foundation for successful chiropractic practice. Competencies emphasized include information literacy, toxicology, patient education, public health, ethics, jurisprudence, philosophy of chiropractic, historical perspectives of the chiropractic profession, entrepreneurial business skills and practice management skills. The format of courses within this track spans the entire curricular program. Learning activities are designed to develop critical thinking skills, professional leadership skills and a commitment to personal and professional development through lifelong learning.

The Palmer Chiropractic Abilities

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 patient 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.

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