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Western Michigan University Physician Assistant Program Competencies

Includes competency-specific learning outcomes expected to be achieved at the time of graduation

The PA profession defines specific knowledge, skills, attitudes, and educational experiences requisite for physician assistants to acquire in order to demonstrate specific professional competencies. These professional competencies include the effective and appropriate application of medical knowledge, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, clinical reasoning and problem solving, and clinical and technical skills. Western Michigan University Physician Assistant Program has adopted nationally recognized PA professional competencies with modifications that articulate what the student will develop and advance during PA school, demonstrating competency at the time of program completion.

Competencies

Medical Knowledge

Medical knowledge includes the synthesis of pathophysiology, patient presentation, differential diagnosis, patient management, medical and surgical principles, health promotion, and disease prevention.  Physician assistants must demonstrate core knowledge about established and evolving biomedical and clinical sciences and the application of this knowledge to patient care.  In addition, physician assistants are expected to demonstrate an investigative and analytic thinking approach to clinical situations.  Physician assistants are expected to understand, evaluate, and apply the following to clinical scenarios:

1. Understand etiologies, risk factors, underlying pathological process, and epidemiology for medical conditions
2. Identify signs and symptoms of medical conditions
3. Manage general medical and surgical conditions to include understanding the indications, contraindications, side effects, interactions and adverse reactions of pharmacologic agents and other relevant treatment modalities
4. Identify the appropriate site of care for presenting conditions, including identifying emergent/urgent cases and those requiring referral or admission
5. Identify appropriate interventions for prevention of medical conditions
6. Identify the appropriate methods to detect medical conditions in an asymptomatic individual
7. Differentiate between the normal and the abnormal in anatomic, physiological, laboratory findings and other diagnostic data
8. Provide appropriate care to patients with acute and chronic conditions

Clinical Reasoning and Problem-Solving (Patient Care)

Clinical Reasoning and Problem Solving includes patient- and setting-specific assessment, evaluation, and management. Physician assistants must demonstrate care that is effective, safe, high quality, and equitable. Physician assistants are expected to:

1. Gather essential and accurate information about their patients including, medical history, physical examination, diagnostic modalities to identify abnormal findings.
2. Formulate a comprehensive differential diagnoses and problem list, allowing for a diagnosis and treatment plan to be developed in a cost-effective manner
3. Develop a treatment plan that includes pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic therapeutic options based on patient information and preferences, up-to-date scientific evidence, and clinical judgment
4. Provide appropriate medical care in emergent, acute, chronic, rehabilitative, palliative, and end-of-life settings
5. Develop and carry out patient management plans
6. Assess patient outcomes to evaluate the accuracy of diagnoses, the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions, patient compliance, and other factors that potentially impact patient care
7. Provide health care services and education aimed at preventing health problems or maintaining health

Professionalism

Professionalism is the expression of positive values and ideals as care is delivered.  Foremost, it involves prioritizing the interests of those being served above one’s own.  Physician assistants must acknowledge their professional and personal limitations.  Professionalism also requires that PAs practice without impairment from substance abuse, cognitive deficiency or mental illness. Physician assistants must demonstrate a high level of responsibility, ethical practice, sensitivity to a diverse patient population, and adherence to legal and regulatory requirements.  Physician assistants are expected to demonstrate:

1. Understanding of legal and regulatory requirements, as well as the appropriate role of the physician assistant
2. Professional relationships with physicians and other health care providers
3. Respect, compassion, and integrity
4. Responsiveness to the needs of patients and society
5. Accountability to patients, society, and the profession
6. Commitment to excellence and on-going professional development
7. Commitment to ethical principles pertaining to provision or withholding of clinical care, confidentiality of patient information, informed consent, and business practices
8. Sensitivity and responsiveness to patients’ culture, age, gender, and disabilities
9. Self-reflection, critical curiosity and initiative
10. Act within the AAPA’s Physician Assistant “Code of Ethics of the PA Profession”

Clinical and Technical Skills

There are certain clinical and technical skills physician assistants possess to provide quality patient care. Physician assistants must utilize technologies and other resources to effectively search, interpret, and appraise the medical literature for answers to clinical questions and evidence-based practices, and integrate and apply newly acquired knowledge into patient care.  Physician assistants are expected to:

1. Elicit an appropriate problem focused history
2. Perform a problem focused physical exam
3. Perform a complete physical exam with consideration given to age appropriate guidelines 
4. Present relevant finding of history and physical exam to other health care team members
5. Select and interpret appropriate diagnostic or lab studies
6. Safely perform common medical procedures related to specialty of medical practice 
7. Document all stages of patient care from admission through discharge
8. Demonstrate proper sterile technique
9. Develop a differential diagnosis based on patient encounter/complaint
10. Write appropriate prescription for patient encounter, including weight appropriate dose, route and instructions
11. Provide patient education and counseling when appropriate
12. Identify when patient referral is warranted
13. Effectively utilize both electronic and non-digital medical records to document findings, access clinical information, write prescriptions and orders, and make referrals

Interpersonal and Communication Skills

Interpersonal and communication skills encompass the verbal, nonverbal, written, and electronic exchange of information.  Physician assistants must demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in effective information exchange with patients, patients’ families, physicians, professional associates, and other individuals within the health care system. Physician assistants are expected to:

1. Create and sustain a therapeutic and ethically sound relationship with patients
2. Use effective listening, nonverbal, explanatory, questioning, and writing skills to elicit and provide information
3. Appropriately adapt communication style and messages to the context of the individual patient interaction
4. Work effectively with physicians and other health care professionals as a member or leader of a health care team or other professional group
5. Apply an understanding of human behavior
6. Demonstrate emotional resilience and stability, adaptability, flexibility and tolerance of ambiguity and anxiety
7. Accurately and adequately document and record information regarding the care process for medical, legal, quality and financial purposes
8. Work effectively with physicians and other health care professionals to provide patient-centered care
9. Demonstrate caring and respectful behaviors when interacting with patients and their families/significant others
10. Counsel and educate patients and their families