Physician Assistant Studies Program Competencies
Upon completion of the Mercyhurst Department of Physician Assistant Studies, the graduate will possess knowledge, skills, and abilities in the following competencies:
- Demonstrate knowledge of established and evolving biomedical, clinical, and social-behavioral sciences and application to patient care, including prenatal, infants, children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly for medical conditions throughout preventative, emergent, acute, chronic, and rehabilitative care.
- Demonstrate knowledge of and elicit a medical history (clinical skills) that is relevant and accurate of patient information, appropriate to the reason for the visit, patient demographics, and health care setting.
- Demonstrate knowledge of and perform a physical examination (clinical skills) that is appropriate to the reason for the visit, patient demographics, and health care setting.
- Develop a diagnostic management plan (clinical reasoning/problem solving) for medical conditions by analyzing and synthesizing relevant clinical information for person-centered care, throughout preventative, emergent, acute, chronic, and rehabilitative care to include prenatal, infants, children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly.
- Develop a therapeutic management plan (clinical reasoning/problem-solving) for medical conditions by analyzing and synthesizing relevant clinical, psychosocial, cultural, and socioeconomic information for person-centered care, throughout preventative, emergent, acute, chronic, and rehabilitative care to include prenatal, infants, children, adolescents, adults, and the elderly.
- Provide appropriate patient education (interpersonal skills) regarding medical conditions, including preventative, emergent, acute, chronic, and rehabilitative care that is person-centered and 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.
- Communicate clearly and effectively (interpersonal skills) in oral and written forms with patients, families, caregivers, and members of the healthcare team to provide comprehensive, person-centered care for medical conditions.
- Demonstrate knowledge of and perform medical and surgical procedures (technical skills) essential to primary care to include injections, pelvic exam, urinalysis, and wound management.
- Demonstrate professionalism (professional behaviors) with high ethical standards sensitive to patients, families, 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.
