Graduates of the PA Program will be expected to:
- Accurately elicit a medical history and perform an appropriate physical examination based on patient presentation.
- Formulate an appropriate differential diagnosis based on history and physical exam findings.
- Appropriately recommend and interpret common diagnostic studies based on history and physical exam findings.
- Diagnose and manage acute and chronic medical and psychological disorders based on clinical presentation and diagnostic testing results for patients across the lifespan.
- Develop and implement appropriate treatment plans for common disorders including medications, surgery, counseling, therapeutic procedures, rehabilitative therapies, or other therapeutic modalities.
- Perform common laboratory studies and clinical procedures.
- Screen for diseases, assess for risk factors of common disease, and initiate and recommend health promotion and disease prevention measures.
- Provide patient education and counseling for common medical and psychological illnesses, common medical procedures, therapeutic regimens, adherence, and health maintenance.
- Recognize when a problem is beyond the scope of the PA provider and refer the patient to the supervising physician, appropriate specialists, and/or community resources.
- Effectively document medical information in a variety of formats.
- Demonstrate competence in written, oral, and electronic forms of communication with patients, families, and other members of the health care team.
- Perform a medical literature search, critically evaluate the relevance of the medical literature, and apply evidence based medicine principles to clinical practice.
- Show sensitivity regarding the emotional, cultural and socioeconomic aspects of the patient, the patient’s condition, and the patient’s family.
- Conduct themselves in a professional courteous manner and with the highest ethical and legal standards expected of a health care professional and consistent with the role and responsibilities of a physician assistant.
- Continue to develop lifelong learning skills through on-going self reflection, active engagement, and professional development.
