Physician Assistant Studies Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Mercyhurst Department of Physician Assistant Studies, the graduate will possess knowledge, skills and abilities in the following competencies:

  1. Demonstrate knowledge of established and evolving biomedical, clinical and social-behavioral sciences and application to patient care across the lifespan for medical conditions, including preventative, emergent, acute and chronic.
  2. Elicit a medical history that is relevant and accurate of patient information across the lifespan and adjusts to the health care setting.
  3. Perform a physical examination that adjusts accordingly to the reason for the visit, patient demographics and condition.
  4. Analyze patient data to develop a differential diagnosis (clinical reasoning/problem solving) that applies the principles of epidemiology across the lifespan and evidence-based medicine for medical conditions, including preventative, emergent, acute and chronic.
  5. Develop a diagnostic management plan (clinical reasoning/problem solving) for common medical conditions, including preventative, emergent, acute and chronic, across the lifespan taking into consideration cost, sensitivity/specificity, invasiveness and appropriate sequencing.  
  6. Develop a therapeutic management plan (clinical reasoning/problem solving) for medical conditions, including preventative, emergent, acute and chronic, across the lifespan that applies principles of pharmacotherapeutics and non-pharmacotherapeutics while taking into consideration the patient’s condition, psychosocial context and socioeconomic factors.  Make certain the plan is practical for implementation and ensures follow up care. 
  7. Provide accurate patient education (interpersonal skills) regarding medical conditions, including preventative, emergent, acute and chronic, to patients across the lifespan inclusive of health promotion and disease prevention in oral and written forms taking into consideration literacy, diversity, inclusiveness of family/caregivers and utilization of other healthcare professionals and community resources/services.
  8. Communicate clearly and effectively (interpersonal skills) in oral and written forms with patients across the lifespan, their family/caregivers and members of the healthcare team to provide competent comprehensive patient-centered care for medical conditions, including preventative, emergent, acute and chronic.
  9. Perform medical and surgical procedures (clinical and technical skills) common across the lifespan in primary care for preventative, emergent, acute and chronic conditions to include: venipuncture, intravenous access, injections, EKG, urinalysis, strep screen, stool occult blood, wound management, casting, splinting, urinary catheterization, and CPR.
  10. Demonstrate professionalism with high ethical standards sensitive to patients across the lifespan, their family/caregivers and members of the health care team. Continually promote the Mercy values of compassion, justice, dignity, excellence, hospitality and stewardship in practice and service to the community.
  11. Maintain practice-based and lifelong learning skills with continued critical analysis of medical literature to evaluate, manage and improve patient-centered care.
  12. Demonstrate responsiveness to systems-based practice by practicing cost effective care and resource allocation that does not compromise the quality of care.
three male physician assistant students and one female student work in a lab