PA Medicine Student Competencies
Medical Knowledge
- MK1: Utilize medical knowledge of acute and chronic conditions including etiology, pathophysiology, incidence, risk factors, clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, and treatment strategies to effectively manage a patient across the life span.
- MK2: Possess knowledge of pharmaceutical agents including indications, contraindications, dosing, side effects, drug interactions, and costs to patients.
- MK3: Utilize the concepts of public health to improve the quality of patient care.
- MK4: Recognize emergent medical conditions versus non-emergent medical conditions by appropriately triaging patients.
- MK5: Practice evidence-based medicine which incorporates life-long learning and current clinical guidelines
Clinical and Technical Skills
- CTS1: Elicit a thorough patient-centered complete or problem-focused patient history taking into account any social determinants that may affect healthcare.
- CTS2: Perform a complete and problem-focused physical examination and recognize normal from abnormal findings.
- CTS3: Perform appropriate clinical procedures and educate patient regarding procedure, complications, and follow-up care.
- CTS4: Construct patient-centered holistic medical treatment plans that include pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies.
- CTS5: Foster preventive care including age-appropriate screening, immunization recommendations, patient education, behavioral modification, and healthcare wellness.
- CTS6: Practice cultural awareness and inclusion while advocating for patients.
- CTS7: Evaluate and appropriately manage surgical patients in the pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative settings.
Clinical Reasoning and Problem Solving Abilities
- CRPS1: Utilizing history and physical exam findings to formulate a differential diagnosis for acute and chronic diseases.
- CRPS2: Select and interpret appropriate lab and diagnostic studies to aid in decision making.
- CRPS3: Apply appropriate decision-making skills, clinical reasoning, and judgement to all aspects of patient care.
- CRPS4: Formulate a diagnosis which integrates clinical presentation, results of diagnostic tests, and cultural and environmental aspects.
Interpersonal and Communication Skills
- ICS1: Communicate effectively with patients and families by utilizing patient-centered interpersonal skills that incorporates mutual respect with the patient.
- ICS2: Perform patient education which considers health literacy and other social determinants, and encourages treatment adherence and lifestyle modification.
- ICS3: Perform effective medical documentation to include admission notes, SOAP notes, discharge summaries/plans, orders, and referrals.
- ICS4: Effectively present patient information to collaborating physicians and other health care providers.
Professional Behaviors
- PB1: Appropriately collaborate in interprofessional teams while understanding the roles of others to improve the quality of patient care.
- PB2: Incorporate patient safety strategies, reduce medical errors, and practice quality improvement in medical care.
- PB3: Embrace professionalism in all aspects of clinical practice incorporating accountability, altruism, and confidentiality.
- PB4: Embrace the role of a physician assistant and recognize personal limitations while practicing.
- PB5: Possess a thorough understanding of medical ethics and the legal aspects of health care.
Table: How each competency is evaluated during the summative assessment
|
Competency |
Summative |
|
Medical Knowledge |
|
|
MK1: Utilize medical knowledge of acute and chronic conditions including etiology, pathophysiology, incidence, risk factors, clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, and treatment strategies to effectively manage a patient across the life span. |
Written exam |
|
MK2: Possess knowledge of pharmaceutical agents including indications, contraindications, dosing, side effects, drug interactions, and costs to patients. |
Written exam OSCE |
|
MK3: Utilize the concepts of public health to improve the quality of patient care. |
OSCE |
|
MK4: Recognize emergent medical conditions versus non-emergent medical conditions by appropriately triaging patients. |
Written exam |
|
MK5: Practice evidence-based medicine which incorporates life-long learning and current clinical guidelines |
Written exam OSCE |
|
Clinical and Technical Skills |
|
|
CTS1: Elicit a thorough patient-centered complete or problem-focused patient history taking into account any social determinants that may affect healthcare. |
Written exam OSCE |
|
CTS2: Perform a complete and problem-focused physical examination and recognize normal from abnormal findings. |
Written exam OSCE |
|
CTS3: Perform appropriate clinical procedures and educate patient regarding procedure, complications and follow-up care. |
Clinical/Technical Skill Assessment |
|
CTS4: Construct patient-centered holistic medical treatment plans that include pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies. |
Written exam OSCE |
|
CTS5: Foster preventive care including age appropriate screening, immunization recommendations, patient education, behavioral modification, and healthcare wellness. |
Written exam OSCE |
|
CTS6: Practice cultural awareness and inclusion while advocating for patients. |
OSCE |
|
CTS7: Evaluate and appropriately manage surgical patients in the pre-operative, intra-operative, and post-operative settings. |
Written exam |
|
Clinical Reasoning and Problem Solving Abilities |
|
|
CRPS1: Utilizing history and physical exam findings formulate a differential diagnosis for acute and chronic diseases. |
Written exam OSCE |
|
CRPS2: Select and interpret appropriate lab and diagnostic studies to aid in decision making. |
Written exam OSCE |
|
CRPS3: Apply appropriate decision-making skills, clinical reasoning, and judgement to all aspects of patient care. |
Written exam OSCE |
|
CRPS4: Formulate a diagnosis which integrates clinical presentation, results of diagnostic tests, and cultural and environmental aspects. |
Written exam OSCE |
|
Interpersonal and Communication Skills |
|
|
ICS1: Communicate effectively with patients and families by utilizing patient-centered interpersonal skills that incorporates mutual respect with the patient. |
OSCE |
|
ICS2: Perform patient education which considers health literacy and other social determinants and encourages treatment adherence and lifestyle modification. |
OSCE |
|
ICS3: Perform effective medical documentation to include admission notes, SOAP notes, discharge summaries/plans, orders and referrals. |
OSCE |
|
ICS4: Effectively present patient information to collaborating physicians and other health care providers. |
Oral Patient Presentation |
|
Professional Behaviors |
|
|
PB1: Appropriately collaborate in interprofessional teams while understanding the roles of others to improve the quality of patient care. |
Oral Patient Presentation |
|
PB2: Incorporate patient safety strategies, reduce medical errors and practice quality improvement in medical care. |
Clinical/Technical Skill Assessment |
|
PB3: Embrace professionalism in all aspects of clinical practice incorporating accountability, altruism, and confidentiality. |
OSCE |
|
PB4: Embrace the role of a physician assistant and recognize personal limitations while practicing. |
Written exam OSCE |
|
PB5: Possess a thorough understanding of medical ethics and the legal aspects of health care. |
Written exam OSCE |
The Department of PA Medicine faculty approved the above Competencies on 3/16/2020.
Reaffirmed by the Faculty of the Department of PA Medicine on 5/20/21, 1/11/2022, 2/8/2023, 1/8/2024, 12/17/24.