Program Required Competencies

1. Knowledge for Practice

• Demonstrate critical thinking in clinical situations
• Access and interpret current and credible sources of medical information
• Understand and apply the fundamental principles of epidemiology
• Discern among acute, chronic, and emergent disease states
• Recognize normal and abnormal health states
• Formulate a differential diagnosis
• Develop and implement patient management plans
• Understand the pathophysiology of disease processes
• Distinguish and order appropriate laboratory and diagnostic tests
• Analyze laboratory and diagnostic tests
• Understand pharmacologic principles to formulate a plan for the administration of medications
• Recognize patient acuity for proper triage to the appropriate treatment setting
• Initiate management and provide supportive care for acute life-threatening emergencies
• Demonstrate knowledge about established and evolving biomedical and clinical sciences and the application of this knowledge to patient care
• Demonstrate understanding and application of technical skills and procedures

2. Interpersonal and Communication Skills

• Demonstrate culturally sensitive care
• Demonstrate effective interpersonal communication to elicit and provide information
• Accurately and adequately document medical information
• Demonstrate emotional resilience, stability, adaptability, and flexibility
• Utilize patient-centered and culturally sensitive patient education techniques

3. Person-centered Care

• Elicit a detailed, accurate, and comprehensive patient history
• Organize and present data from the history and physical examination
• Perform an appropriate physical examination
• Apply the context of the individual’s environment and cultural influences to their care
• Develop, implement, and monitor effectiveness of patient management plans
• Counsel patients to participate in their care and enable shared decision-making

4. Interprofessional Collaboration

• Communicate effectively with colleagues and other professionals
• Recognize appropriate referral patterns
• Recognize the importance of working collaboratively as a member of an inter- professional, patient-centered healthcare team
• Consistently maintain professional relationships
  

5. Professionalism and Ethics

• Adhere to standards of care in the role of the PA in the health care team
• Demonstrate cultural humility and responsiveness to diverse patient populations
• Show commitment to ethical principles
• Demonstrate an enthusiasm in learning and expand knowledge through self-directed learning
• Demonstrate timely attendance, appropriate dress and accomplishment of assigned tasks on time
• Demonstrate the ability to openly seek and positively respond to constructive feedback from preceptors and staff