Medical Knowledge: Our graduates must demonstrate core knowledge about established and evolving biomedical and clinical sciences and the application of this knowledge to patient care. The PA graduate should be able to develop an accurate assessment of the patient’s condition and appropriately and safely manage their care even if the diagnosis is not immediately obvious. The PA graduate should be able to manage a wide variety of common medical, psychiatric, and social conditions affecting any body system. This should include procedures, lab/imaging studies, medications, diet, prevention/ health maintenance strategies and appropriate referral of the patient. Graduates of our training program are specifically expected to:
- Correctly identify signs/symptoms of common medical conditions
- Correctly select and interpret appropriate diagnostic labs and studies
- Appropriately use judgment and discernment commensurate with entry-level practice
- Demonstrate knowledge of the normal structure and function of the human body and each of its major organ systems.
- Demonstrate an understanding of evidence based medicine including the ability to find evidence based guidelines for common medical problems. Graduates should also understand the current limitations in evidence based medicine and how to make appropriate decisions in the absence of clear evidence.Understand the concepts of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention and how to apply those in the clinical setting.
- Understand etiologies, risk factors, underlying pathologic processes, and epidemiology for medical conditions
- Demonstrate the ability to manage general medical and surgical conditions including an understanding of the indications, contraindications, side effects, interactions, and adverse reactions of pharmacologic agents and other relevant treatment modalities
- Identify the appropriate disposition for presenting conditions, including identifying emergent cases and those requiring referral or admission
- Appropriately use the history, physical findings, and diagnostic studies to formulate a differential diagnosis
Interpersonal and communication skills: Our graduates must demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in effective information exchange with patients, patients' families, physicians, professional associates, and the health care system. Graduates of our training program are specifically expected to:
- Demonstrate the ability to build rapport, and use active listening techniques to communicate effectively both written and verbally
- Appropriately adapt communication style and messages to the context of the individual patient interaction
- Conduct an effective and structured medical interview with a patient
- Use effective listening, nonverbal, explanatory, questioning, and writing skills to elicit and provide information
- Present their findings accurately and concisely in written documentation as well as verbally to other health care professionals
- Use interpersonal and communication skills to work effectively with other health care professionals
- Work effectively with physicians and other health care professionals as a member or leader of a health care team or other professional group
Patient Care: Includes age-appropriate assessment, evaluation, and management. Our graduates must demonstrate care that is effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable for the treatment of health problems and the promotion of wellness. Graduates of our training program are specifically expected to be competent in the following:
- Performing a problem-focused as well as comprehensive history and physical exam
- Gathering essential and accurate information about patients
- Applying scientific principles and evidence to the diagnosis, management and prevention of clinical issues
- Providing effective counseling and education for patients and their families
- Performing medical and surgical procedures considered necessary for general practice
- Providing appropriate care to patients with chronic conditions
- Providing health care services and education aimed at the prevention of health problems as well as the maintenance of optimal health
- Determining the illness acuity level of a patient, including those with non-specific symptoms
Professionalism: Is the expression of positive values and ideals as care is delivered. Foremost, it involves prioritizing the interests of those being served above one's own. Our graduates must know their professional and personal limitations. Professionalism also requires that PAs practice without impairment from substance abuse, cognitive deficiency, or mental illness. Our graduates must demonstrate a high level of responsibility, ethical practice, sensitivity to a diverse patient population, and adherence to legal and regulatory requirements. Graduates of our training program are specifically expected to:
- Have the ability to establish effective professional relationships with physician supervisors and other health care providers
- Display respect, compassion, and integrity
- Be responsive to the needs of patients and society
- Be accountable to patients, society, and the profession
- Demonstrate commitment to excellence and on-going professional development
- Demonstrate commitment to ethical principles pertaining to provision or withholding of clinical care, confidentiality of patient information, informed consent, and business practices
- Display sensitivity and responsiveness to patients' culture, age, gender, and abilities
- Demonstrate the capacity for self-reflection, critical curiosity, and initiative.
- Present themselves in a professional manner
- Assist a patient through an ethical dilemma
Practice-based learning and improvement: Includes the processes through which clinicians engage in critical analysis of their own practice experience, medical literature, and other information resources for the purpose of self-improvement. Our graduates must be able to assess, evaluate, and improve their patient care practices. Graduates of our training program are specifically expected to:
- Analyze practice experience and perform practice-based improvement activities using a systematic methodology in concert with other members of the health care delivery team
- Demonstrate the ability to locate, appraise, and integrate evidence from scientific studies related to their patients' health problems
- Make their practice responsive to reflect the needs of the patient population which they serve
- Apply knowledge of study designs and statistical methods to the appraisal of clinical studies and other information on diagnostic and therapeutic effectiveness
- Apply information technology to manage information, access online medical information, and support their own education
- Work collaboratively in teams to facilitate the learning of students and/or other health care professionals relative to interprofessional practice/care
- Demonstrate the ability to recognize and accept limitations in knowledge and skills through self-reflection, give and accept constructive criticism and demonstrate intellectual curiosity to address self-identified gaps
Systems-based practice: Encompasses the societal, organizational, and economic environments in which health care is delivered. Our graduates must demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger system of health care to provide patient care that is of optimal value. Our graduates should work to improve the larger health care system of which their practices are a part. Graduates of our training program are specifically expected to:
- Have a general understanding of the health care system as a whole and the Physician Assistant’s role in the larger system of care.
- Demonstrate an awareness of the larger context in systems of health care and effectively call on system resources to provide optimal care.
- Effectively interact with different types of medical practice and delivery systems
- Understand the funding sources and payment systems that provide coverage for patient care
- Demonstrate a basic understanding of the legal and regulatory requirements of the US healthcare system
- Practice cost-effective health care and resource allocation that does not compromise quality of care
- Advocate for quality patient care and assist patients in dealing with system complexities
- Partner with supervising physicians, health care managers, and other health care providers to assess, coordinate, and improve the delivery of health care and patient outcomes
- Promote safe environments for patient care