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 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	Sumative Assessment
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.	Procedural testing
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.	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.	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.	OSCE presentation
Professional Behaviors
PB1: Appropriately collaborate in interprofessional teams while understanding the roles of others to improve the quality of patient care.	OSCE
PB2: Incorporate patient safety strategies, reduce medical errors and practice quality improvement in medical care.	OSCE
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

The Department of PA Medicine faculty approved the above Competencies on March 16, 2020
Reaffirmed by the Faculty of the Department of PA Medicine on 12/15/20, 3/16/21, 1/11/2022, 2/28/2023