COMAT Clinical Subjects  |  Learner Expectations

Exam content covers a wide array of knowledge and presentations, illustrative of high-impact and/or high-frequency conditions that affect patients, families and communities. The foundation of COMAT is based on the osteopathic philosophy of whole-person healthcare, underlying structure and function relationships, and the interdependence of body systems for self-regulation and healing, all of which are reflective of osteopathic medicine as a distinctive branch of mainstream medicine. The exam is not an all-inclusive listing; not all topics listed are included in all examinations.

For each of the areas, the candidate should be able to describe, differentiate and apply basic scientific and osteopathic medical principles across age groups, gender, culture and care settings related to the following topics.

Homeostatic Tendency to Health

• The natural history of the clinical presentation in the treated and untreated state
• The etiology, epidemiology and risk factors of the clinical presentation
• The underlying physiologic, genetic and environmental issues in functional and dysfunctional responses to the clinical presentation
• Evidence-based health promotion and disease prevention principles related to the clinical presentation

Foundational Biomedical & Osteopathic Medical Knowledge

• The classic presentation of the condition
• The physical, emotional, societal and environmental factors related to the condition
• Cardinal characteristics to affirm or dis-affirm the presence of the condition and its progression in the treated and untreated state
• The application and interpretation of statistical evidence and best practices to the evaluation and treatment of the condition

Clinical Findings for Diagnosis & Treatment

• History and physical examination, including structural examination and treatment
• Laboratory studies
• Electrophysiologic findings (e.g., ECG, EEG, fetal monitoring, PFTs)
• Imaging studies (e.g., CT scan, MRI, ultrasonography, radiography)
• Psychosocial influences

Management Approaches to the Condition or Presentation

• Differentiate the approach in the acute, subacute and chronic states
• Apply evidence-based practices
• Interpret related research and studies
• Apply standards for monitoring the presentation status over time

Concepts of Structure & Function

• Findings in diagnosis
• Options in manipulative treatment
• Functional and dysfunctional anatomic and physiologic responses

Systems-Based Practice

• Heath care delivery – effective and efficient resource utilization and payment
• Associated legal and ethical considerations
• Verbal, nonverbal and written communication with the patient, family and health care community
• Documentation of the condition or presentation
• Interprofessional and team approaches to the patient and to population-based health conditions