PA Program Competencies

By the end the the program, Physician Assistant students are expected to have developed the below skills for entry level practice.

Expectations

  1. Patient-Centered Practice
    1. Know etiologies, risk factors, underlying pathologic process, and epidemiology for medical conditions
    2. Demonstrate fundamental medical knowledge and its application through evidence-based medicine, current guidelines and standards, and informed clinical judgement
    3. Elicit and perform appropriate history and physical examination
    4. Interpret laboratory data, electrophysiology studies, and other diagnostic tests required to evaluate patient
    5. Integrate history and physical findings and diagnostic studies to formulate differential diagnoses and appropriate clinical intervention
    6. Provide counseling and health education aimed at disease prevention and health maintenance
  2. Professional and Interprofessional Collaborative Practice
    1. Demonstrate ethical principles in all aspects of education and practice
    2. Demonstrate the ability to work collaboratively with peers, faculty and other health professionals to establish and maintain a climate of mutual respect, dignity, diversity, ethical integrity, and trust
  3. Health Literacy, Communication, and Lifelong Learning
    1. Demonstrate emotional competence and honesty in difficult conversations with peers, faculty, patients and colleagues
    2. Demonstrate professional and effective communication with peers, faculty, patients, and medical team members
    3. Demonstrate the ability to critically appraise clinical and research literature
  4. Legal and Financial Aspects of Healthcare Systems
    1. Understand the funding sources and payment systems that provide coverage for patient care
    2. Advocate for quality patient care and assist patients in dealing with system complexities
    3. Recognize and appropriately address system biases that contribute to health care disparities
    4. Accurately and adequately document information regarding care for medical, legal, quality, and financial purposes
    5. Understand legal and regulatory requirements and the role of the physician assistant
  5. Society, Population Health and Cultural Competencies
    1. Recognize the cultural norms and social determinants of health affecting the health of the individual, community and populations
    2. Understand the need for community engagement and multi-sector collaboration in achieving health equity
    3. Demonstrate respect, empathy, and cultural humility when interacting with patients and their families

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