Program Competencies

Upon successful completion of the Pleasantville Physician Assistant Studies Program, students will be expected to be able to:

• Employ the ability to think critically and utilize clinical reasoning in providing patient-centered primary care.
• Demonstrate the basic medical knowledge of acute, chronic, and emergent conditions across the lifespan and apply this understanding to patient care.
• Demonstrate professionalism, honesty and integrity in all interactions with colleagues, patients and families.
• Employ interpersonal communication skills to develop therapeutic and culturally sensitive relationships with patients and their families that reflect compassion and respect.
• Possess knowledge of pharmaceutical agents including indications, contraindications, dosing, side effects, drug interactions and costs to patients.
• Conduct accurate patient histories by actively listening and communicating and in ways that adapt to their level of health literacy and comprehension.
• Demonstrate the ability to select appropriate, high value diagnostic studies and tests.
• Demonstrate the ability to perform appropriate diagnostic and therapeutic procedures safely and competently
• Formulate a prioritized differential diagnosis by integrating information from the medical history, physical exam and diagnostic testing.
• Perform a thorough and focused oral Presentation accurately portraying the patient history, physical exam findings and proposed diagnostic and treatment plan for the differential diagnosis.
• Perform comprehensive and focused physical exams accurately and as required by a patient’s chief complaint or inquiry and be able to recognize normal and abnormal health states.
• Differentiate between the roles of all members of interprofessional patient-care teams and use that information to request referrals when appropriate.
• Accurately complete medical documentation regarding care provided, for medical, legal, and quality assurance.
• Utilize the concepts of public health and patient safety to improve the quality of patient care.
• Demonstrate professional leadership and patient advocacy in the care of diverse and underserved patients by assisting them in navigating the unique barriers they often face when accessing care.
• Demonstrate a commitment and understanding of ethical principles in patient care including decision making and confidentiality of patient information, informed consent, conflicts of interest and business practices.
• Utilizing a formulated diagnosis, create management and treatment plans based on respect for patient preferences, evidence-based medicine and informed clinical judgement.
• Provide culturally sensitive patient education aimed at disease management and prevention.
• Synthesize knowledge of pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative care to manage patients in the primary care setting.
• Recognize and address personal biases, gaps in medical knowledge and physical limitations.