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	Summative 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 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.