57072 - Community Medicine

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, students will acquire fundamental knowledge of:

• the organization, management and evaluation of primary health care services (Health Districts, Primary Care and Community Medicine Departments/Units), with particular emphasis on the role of the General Practitioner (GP) and the organization of community-based services for older adults and people with disabilities or loss of autonomy (Residential Care Facilities, Community Health Centres);

• the role of Community Medicine in ensuring continuity of care between community and hospital settings;

• the principles underlying the organization and evaluation of health promotion, disease and disability prevention, treatment and care, rehabilitation, and social reintegration interventions, including multidisciplinary and team-based projects and activities.

Course contents

• The World Health Organization (WHO) concept of health and the determinants of health.

• Community Medicine: definition, objectives, organizational principles, and its role in primary health care and continuity of care.

• The role of the General Practitioner (GP) in primary health care: patient management, continuity of care, disease prevention, chronic disease management, and integration with community health services.

• Organization of community health services: Community Health Centres (Case della Comunità), Community Hospitals (Ospedali di Comunità), Territorial Operations Centres (Centrali Operative Territoriali, COT), Residential Care Facilities (RSA), and Integrated Home Care Services (Assistenza Domiciliare Integrata, ADI); their functions, organization, and integration within the community care network, with particular reference to patients with chronic conditions, frailty, and loss of autonomy.

• Continuity of care between hospital and community settings: organizational models and tools for the management of patients with chronic conditions and functional dependency; Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA), the Individualized Care Plan (ICP), and multidisciplinary and integrated health and social care.

• Health promotion and health education: principles, strategies, and interventions; levels of prevention (primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary) and their application in Community Medicine.

Discussion of clinical and community care case studies

• Frail older adult with complex health and social care needs.

• Patient with chronic heart failure.

• Patient with dementia and caregiver support.

• Patient with diabetes mellitus and multiple chronic conditions.

• Patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

• Patient discharged from hospital following an acute event (supported discharge).

• Dependent patient receiving Integrated Home Care Services (ADI).

• Patient receiving home-based palliative care.

• Patient with post-stroke disability requiring community-based rehabilitation.

• Patient with multimorbidity and polypharmacy managed by a multidisciplinary team.

Teaching methods

Frontal lessons including discussion of cases

Assessment methods

written and oral exam

Office hours

See the website of Elisa Fabbri