PA Graduate Competencies

By the end of their PA education, students will be able to:

1.1: Demonstrate understanding of foundational knowledge in medicine including anatomy and physiology.
1.2: Recognize etiologies, risk factors, underlying pathologic processes and epidemiology for medical conditions.
1.3: Utilize anatomic, physiologic, laboratory, imaging, and other diagnostic data to evaluate a wide range of patient conditions.

By the end of their PA education, students will be able to:

2.1: Obtain a complete and organized medical history emphasizing the patient’s story within the context of their life (including environmental influences, cultural norms, socioeconomic factors, and personal beliefs).
2.2: Effectively elicit information to create and subsequently narrow an appropriate differential diagnosis for a wide range of patient presentations.

By the end of their PA education, students will be able to:

3.1: Perform a complete, logical, and sequential physical examination with appropriate technique and regard for patient dignity.
3.2: Demonstrate the ability to adjust the sequence and content of a physical examination according to the special need(s) of an individual patient.

By the end of their PA education, students will be able to:

4.1: Demonstrate the ability to organize and integrate information from the medical history, physical examination, and diagnostic studies.
4.2: Demonstrate sound medical judgment in formulating a differential diagnosis and reaching a diagnostic impression.
4.3: Utilize strong problem solving skills to manage the care of patients.

By the end of their PA education, students will be able to:

5.1: Select the appropriate diagnostic studies based on history and physical examination findings.
5.2: Recognize the indications, contraindications, risks, costs, and potential complications of various diagnostic studies.
5.3: Select, order, and appropriately interpret routine diagnostic studies.

By the end of their PA education, students will be able to:

6.1: Describe the pharmacotherapeutics used most frequently in treatment or health problems including basic modes of action, indications, contraindications, and complications.
6.2: Formulate and implement a comprehensive therapeutic plan combining both pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic approaches to address common medical conditions and promote health.
6.3: Consider a patient’s unique circumstances when formulating an appropriate treatment recommendation.

By the end of their PA education, students will be able to:

7.1: Develop professional relationships with patients that emphasizes patient- and family- centered decision making.
7:2: Interpret and communicate information with patients and families in a form that is understandable, avoiding medical terminology when possible, and checking to ensure understanding.
7.3: Counsel patient and family regarding health problems including an explanation of the disease process, therapy and its rationale, therapeutic options, prognosis and health care services available.
7.4: Participate in difficult conversations with patients and families.
7.5: Initiate conversations to encourage preventive health care measures and lifestyle changes to encourage wellness with the patient and family.
7.6: Demonstrate empathy to patients and family members through verbal reflection and non-verbal cues.

By the end of their PA education, students will be able to:

8.1: Present a synopsis of the patient’s present illness, medical history, pertinent positive/negative findings, and diagnostic and therapeutic results.
8.2: Write clear, concise, and relevant admission, progress, and discharge notes, including diagnostic, therapeutic, and patient education plans.
8.3: Effectively collaborate and communicate with all members of the health care team.

By the end of their PA education, students will be able to:

9.1: Demonstrate dependability and reliability through punctual attendance and fulfillment of patient care and professional responsibilities.
9.2: Demonstrate respect for patients, peers, preceptors, and program faculty/staff.
9.3: Contribute to a positive and productive learning atmosphere.
9.4: Demonstrate motivation to learn with a growth mindset.
9.5: Respond professionally to feedback.
9.6: Demonstrate self-awareness by admitting mistakes and errors, recognizing one’s own limitations, and seeking advice/consultation when appropriate.
9.7: Demonstrate humility, compassion, integrity, and ethical behaviors.

By the end of their PA education, students will be able to:

10.1: Research clinical questions related to a specific medical topic and/or patient presentation. 10.2: Maintain a critical, current, and operational knowledge of new medical findings.
10.3: Critically evaluate medical literature and incorporate findings into clinical decision making and into communications with the patient and members of the healthcare team.

By the end of their PA education, students will be able to:

11.1: Demonstrate ongoing and continuous self-reflection, critical curiosity, and initiative.
11.2: Demonstrate commitment to continually refining knowledge, skills and attitudes.
11.3: Demonstrate an awareness of personal biases and a willingness to develop plans so that these biases do not negatively affect their care of patients.
11.4: Identify and reflect on issues in the health care system that affect the quality and safety of patient care.
11.5: Recognize the value of monitoring and reporting for quality improvement.
11.6: Recognize signs of impairment and burnout, and identify preventative measures to foster wellness.

By the end of their PA education, students will be able to:

12.1: Understand legal and regulatory requirements, including policy issues that affect PA practice.
12.2: Understand healthcare delivery systems, including coding and billing, funding streams, and insurance.
12.3: Define characteristics of value-based healthcare and apply this knowledge for cost conscious, fiscally responsible care.

By the end of their PA education, students will be able to:

13.1: Recognize the cultural norms and influences, as well as the socioeconomic, environmental, and other population-level factors affecting the health of individuals and their communities. 13.2: Understand the role of structural disparities such as institutional racism that impact health.
13.3: Identify community assets and resources that can be used to improve the health of individuals and populations.
13.4: Define key terminology and apply basic concepts of population health including epidemiology, surveillance, reporting, and intervention.
13.5: Identify strategies to advocate for patients and populations within the context of their communities and health care systems.

By the end of their PA education, students will be able to:

14.1: Understand the importance of respectful consideration of beliefs and value systems to better understand a patient’s cultural identity.
14.2: Provide equitable, ethical, and respectful quality care and services that are responsive to diverse cultural health beliefs and practices, preferred languages, and health literacy as well as provide access to appropriate resources when barriers to communication are encountered.

By the end of their PA education, students will be able to:

15.1: Identify strategies to advocate for the patient as the center of the health care team.
15.2: Articulate one’s own role and responsibilities to patients, families, communities, and other members of the healthcare team.
15.3: Recognize the unique and complementary abilities of different healthcare team members to provide coordinated care that is safe, timely, efficient, effective, and equitable.
15.4: Act with honesty and integrity in building trusting relationships with patients, families, colleagues, and members of other professions/teams.
15.5: Recognize when referrals are needed and make them to the appropriate health care provider.

By the end of their PA education, students will be able to:

16.1: Perform specialized physical examination skills.
16.2: Demonstrate competence in interpreting common diagnostic studies.
16.3: Gain experience with critical patient encounters and relevant interventions for patients throughout the life span.
16.4: Competently perform common clinical procedures in a variety of patient care settings.