Differentialdiagnosis and Medical Screening

22B1921

Bachelor

English

5.0

only summer term

1 semester

The module creates the prerequisite for physiotherapists who want to work professionally autonomously to apply for the so-called "sektoraler Heilpraktiker" at the authorities responsible for them. In addition to medical and physiotherapeutic competencies, legal competencies are also required. These are taught in the LE "Law" in the module "Ethics and Law".

In the module "Differentialdiagnosis and Medical Screening", the basic medical and physiotherapeutic prerequisites for autonomous work on patients are taught. The contents correspond to the necessary (medical) requirements to apply for a sectoral Heilpraktiker license. (The legal requirements for this are taught in the module "Ethics and Law" in the teaching unit "Law").

The learning contents correspond to the specifications

• of the model curriculum for the additional qualification "Sectoral alternative practitioner for physiotherapy" of Bavaria (for the medical part, the legal part is taught accordingly in the module "Ethics & Law".
• as well as the guideline for the implementation of the procedure for the granting of a Heilpraktikererlaubnis according to the HPGesetz (RdErl. d. MS v. 25.022015 - 405-41022/15 - Nds. MBI. S. 294, amended by RdErl. d. MS v. 01.09.2018 -VORIS 21064 - and in particular point 7.2 (Limited review in the field of physiotherapy), p. 11 ff.

Specifically, these are:

• Basic principles of findings, diagnosis and interdisciplinary collaboration - Theoretical consolidation of the "Yellow Flags" and "Red Flags" related to the neuromusculoskeletal system.
• Pathology and relevant physiotherapeutic differential diagnosis of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, - of the nervous system and the psyche - of diseases of the uro-genital system - of diseases of the cardiovascular system - of diseases of the gastrointestinal system - of diseases of the endocrine system - of head and facial pain - and emergency management.

or initial and differential diagnosis of disorders in the field of

• internal medicine, emergency medicine and oncology,
• surgery, trauma medicine and emergency medicine,
• gynecology and urology,
• orthopedics,
• neurology, geriatrics, psychosomatics and psychiatry,
• pediatrics and
• dermatology.

This involves in particular knowledge of:

• signs of disorders of the circulatory system, respiratory system, malignant neoplasms, metabolic diseases, infectious diseases and the development of infants and young children, including possible developmental disorders,
• signs of complications of diseases and findings such as rheumatism, gout, arthritis, headache, shoulder pain, back pain, hip pain, knee pain, thrombosis and thrombophlebitis, of diseases of the nervous system and nerve tracts, such as polyneuropathy, nerve lesions, isolated paresis, spinal cord damage, meningitis, and cauda syndrome; and of diseases of bone and bone marrow, such as osteoporosis, bone metastases, osteomyelitis, and plasmacytoma,
• signs of complications of infectious skin diseases, of tumor diseases and disorders of the lymphatic system, in pain and pain syndromes in currently life-threatening diseases, such as myocardial infarction, encephalitis, epi- and subdural hematoma and aneurysm hemorrhage, about pain conditions in abdominal pain, colic and chronic pain,
• history taking and examination techniques in the office, of taking blood pressure, listening to the heart and lungs and abdomen, as well as recognizing warning signs, especially poor general condition, signs after trauma, known tumor disease, cortisone use, inflammatory signs, bleeding signs, vascular occlusion signs, neurological signs, psychosomatic signs, persistent, increasing and/or recurrent complaints, long-term inability to work, psychosocial signs, drug use, weight loss, especially young or old patients, in the presence of which additional diagnostics by a physician are required and must be initiated.

The total workload for the module is 150 hours (see also "ECTS credit points and grading").

• Written examination and Work practical

The 1-hour written exam and the work sample (practical) are each weighted by 50%.

The selection of the graded and ungraded types of examinations from the given options is the responsibility of the respective teacher. In doing so, he/she will adhere to the respective valid study regulations.

For the types of examinations permitted in the module, the following information on the scope or duration applies in each case.

• Written examination: see valid study regulations
• Work sample, practical: approx. 30 minutes

The requirements are specified in the respective course.

Primarily clinical work experience as a physical therapist.

The students know the system of different flags (especially red flags) with their meaning and consequences for their therapeutic decisions. They know relevant diseases of the relevant organ systems with their effects and contributing factors on neuromusculoskeletal dysfunctions.

In particular, they can use learned hypothesis categories to decide whether an individual disease pattern is suitable for the primary physiotherapeutic approach or whether prior medical clarification is required.

Students demonstrate a detailed and broad knowledge of diseases of the musculoskeletal system, nervous system, genitourinary system, cardiovascular system, gastrointestinal system, and endocrine system. They understand the relationships between neuromusculoskeletal and organic dysfunction. They can correctly classify corresponding external findings, e.g. from medical diagnostics, and interpret them in relation to the respective individual case. They know the relevant international literature on professional autonomy in physiotherapy. In addition, they develop a basic ethical understanding of the obligations, in particular professional ethical obligations, which result from autonomous work.

The theoretical knowledge enables the students to make faster therapeutic decisions for the individual patient. In doing so, they already access numerous clinical patterns that they have developed through their therapeutic experience and in-depth knowledge and that enable them to recognize clinical contexts quickly and confidently. They recognize their own therapeutic limitations and refer patients to other members of the multiprofessional team as appropriate.

The students develop the self-conception on the basis of a reflective practice to optimally apply their knowledge to the respective individual patient case.

The students carry out diagnostic findings and physiotherapeutic differential diagnoses. In doing so, they apply their knowledge of relevant diseases of the musculoskeletal system, the nervous system, the urogenital system, the cardiovascular system, the gastrointestinal system and the endocrine system and recognize correlations. They have theoretical knowledge of possible yellow flags and red flags of the diseases discussed and are able, through systematic screening, to distinguish patients with possible diseases that cannot be treated primarily with physiotherapy from those that can be treated safely with physiotherapy.

Students develop the self-understanding to constantly align their professional actions in the first contact on the ground of the concept of lifelong learning with the internationally available evidence.

Graduates are able to communicate with the patient in a way that is appropriate to the respective problem. This refers to the anamnesis, the therapy process and also the possible need for referral, e.g. to doctors. They also master the preparation of short epicrises with the formulation of a question for additional medical diagnostics.

Students are able to conduct differential diagnostic assessments, using their communication skills to quickly grasp crucial information when talking to patients and to incorporate this information into their clinical reasoning. They are able to interview patients in a systematic and scientifically sound manner. They discuss problem cases from pathology, which can be the basis of clinical patterns, as a team in order to jointly develop a treatment strategy.  They communicate with or refer to other professions to find an optimal therapy for the individual patient.

Graduates justify their own professional actions with theoretical and methodological knowledge, are able to assess their own abilities, autonomously reflect on factual design and decision-making freedoms and use these. They recognize situationally appropriate framework conditions for professional action and justify their decisions responsibly and ethically.

The basics for reflection and control of the therapy process are taught in the Clinical Reasoning module and Communication and Documentation. In this module, these topics are deepened with regard to differential diagnostic aspects.

• Physiotherapy B.Sc. (01.03.2025)

• Zalpour, Christoff

• Zalpour, Christoff
• Unknown person
• Piekartz, Herman Josef Maria