OrthoIllinois Outpatient Musculoskeletal Elective

Department of Medicine and Medical Specialties

  • Course Information

    Course Number: RMDN622

    Prerequisites: Completion of the Internal Medicine or Family Medicine clerkship

    Length of Time: 2 weeks

    Phase Availability: Phase 2 and Phase 3

    Credit Type: Physician Assessed Patient Facing (PAPFE) or Open

    Call: No

  • Contact Information

    Program Director: Saad Tariq, MD

    Coordinator/Scheduling: Allison King (aking75@uic.edu)

    Location: OrthoIllinois (5875 East Riverside Blvd, Rockford, Illinois, 61114)

Narrative Description: This 2-week elective is designed for students that are planning a career in adult primary care (Family Practice or Internal Medicine). The elective will improve the student’s understanding of:

  1. Diagnostic approach to common musculoskeletal problems.
  2. Musculoskeletal physical exam as performed in specialty clinics
  3. Management of common conditions in Rheumatology, Podiatry, and Physiatry
  4. Optimal use of referrals to Rheumatology, Podiatry, and Physiatry

Learning Objectives: 

Evaluation and management of:

  1. Osteoarthritis;
  2. Rheumatoid arthritis and other forms of inflammatory polyarthritis;
  3. Osteoporosis;
  4. Gout;
  5. Fibromyalgia;
  6. Common foot conditions: including bunions, hammer toes, plantar fasciitis, metatarsal stress fractures, and other foot injuries;
  7. Musculoskeletal injuries seen in a walk-in clinic;
  8. Neck and lower back pain and associated radiculopathies

Learning Activities: Teaching will occur during normal outpatient clinics. None of the clinics are specialized to evaluate or manage one particular illness but instead serve patients with a wide variety of common musculoskeletal problems- many of which have been referred by primary care providers. Students will frequently shadow the attending physician, but, when possible, students will perform an independent assessment of patients.

  • Bone Density (DEXA) interpretation
  • Laboratory test interpretation in rheumatic disease
  • Musculoskeletal imaging: X-ray, MRI
  • Ultrasound guided therapeutic injections
  • Use of electrodiagnostic testing: EMG-NCV
  • Procedures for management of spine pain, including epidural injections

Method of Assessment:

  1.  The faculty preceptors will evaluate the student’s performance in the areas of professionalism, clinical knowledge, patient interaction, and level of interest.
  2. The student will receive regular feedback throughout the elective.
  3. Standard UIC evaluation form will be completed and submitted at the end of the Specific written faculty comments and observations are encouraged.

Required Reading: Selected core reading materials (review articles and key studies) will be discussed with attending physicians. The intent of this 2-week experience is not to perform a comprehensive textbook review of musculoskeletal medicine, but to provide hands-on experience and lay the groundwork for approaching diverse MSK problems during continued training and medical practice.

General Scheduling: (Schedule to be modified as needed for each rotation.)

  • Rheumatology: Jasek, Tariq; 8 sessions
  • Physiatry: Enke, Ahmad; 4 sessions
  • Podiatry: John, Residents; 4 sessions
  • Ambulatory Care: Borchardt; 4 sessions
DAY Morning Afternoon
Monday Rheumatology- Tariq Rheumatology- Tariq
Tuesday Physiatry- Ahmad/Enke Physiatry- Ahmad/Enke
Wednesday Rheumatology- Jasek Rheumatology- Tariq
Thursday Physiatry- Ahmad/Enke Physiatry- Ahmad/Enke
Friday Podiatry- John (Roxbury) Podiatry- John (Roxbury)
Saturday/Sunday - -
Monday Rheumatology- Tariq Rheumatology- Tariq
Tuesday Podiatry- John Podiatry- John
Wednesday Rheumatology- Jasek Rheumatology- Tariq
Thursday Ambulatory Care- Borchardt Ambulatory Care- Borchardt
Friday Ambulatory Care- Borchardt Ambulatory Care- Borchardt

Additional Resources: None

Miscellaneous Information: None