Physician Assistant Studies Program Outcomes

Goal 1 : Patient Centered Care - Provide patient-centered care that is compassionate, appropriate, and effective for the treatment of health problems and the promotion of health

• SLO 1.1 : Gather essential and accurate information about patients and their conditions through history-taking and physical examination skills (MK, IPS, CTS)
• SLO 1.2 : Develop differential diagnoses, order and interpret diagnostic tests, perform necessary clinical and technical procedures, diagnose, treat and manage illness. (MK, CTS, CRPS)
• SLO 1.3 : Interpret data to make informed decisions about diagnostic and therapeutic interventions based on patient information and preferences, current scientific evidence, and clinical judgment (MK, CTS, CRPS)
• SLO 1.4 : Develop and implement patient management plans (MK, CRPS)
• SLO 1.5 : Counsel and educate patients and their families to empower them to participate in their care and enable shared decision-making (IPS, PB)
• SLO 1.6 : Provide appropriate referral of patients including ensuring continuity of care throughout transitions between providers or settings (IPS, CRPS, PB)
• SLO 1.7 : Provide health care services to patients, families, and communities aimed at preventing health problems or maintaining health (MK, IPS, CRPS)
   

Goal 2 : Knowledge for Practice - Demonstrate knowledge of established and evolving biomedical and clinical sciences, as well as the application of this knowledge to patient care.

• SLO 2.1 : Apply principles of clinical sciences to diagnose disease and utilize (1) therapeutic decision-making (distinguish between normal and abnormal findings), (2) clinical reasoning and problem-solving, and (3) other aspects of evidence-based medicine (MK, CTS, CRPS)
  SLO 2.2 : Discern among acute, chronic and emerging disease states (MK, CRPS)
  SLO 2.3 : Apply the principles of epidemiological sciences to the identification of health problems, risk factors, treatment strategies, resources, and disease prevention/health promotion efforts for patients and populations (MK, CRPS)
  SLO 2.4 : Identify economic factors that affect access to care (MK, CRPS)
  SLO 2.5 : Access and interpret credible sources of medical knowledge (MK, CRPS)
  SLO 2.6 : Understand different types of health systems and insurance (MK)
   

Goal 3 : Interpersonal and Communication Skills - Demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in the effective exchange of information and collaboration with patients, their families, and health professionals

• SLO 3.1 : Establish meaningful, therapeutic relationships with patients and families to ensure that patients’ needs and goals are met in order to deliver culturally competent care (IPS)
• SLO 3.2 : Communicate effectively with patients, families and the public (IPS)
• SLO 3.3 : Work effectively with others as a member or leader of a healthcare team (IPS, PB)
• SLO 3.4 : Demonstrate sensitivity, honesty, and compassion in difficult conversations, including those about death, end of life, adverse events, bad news, disclosure of errors, and other sensitive topics (IPS)
• SLO 3.5 : Recognize the need for and ensure patients have access to unbiased, professional interpreters and appropriate resources when barriers to communication arise. (IPS)
• SLO 3.6 : Demonstrate insight and understanding of emotions and human response to emotions that allow one to develop and manage interpersonal interactions (IPS)
• SLO 3.7 : Accurately and adequately document medical information regarding care for medical, legal, and quality purposes (MK, CTS, IPS)
   

Goal 4 : Professionalism - Demonstrate a commitment to practicing medicine in ethically and legally appropriate ways and emphasizing professional maturity and accountability for delivering safe and quality care to patients and populations. 

• SLO 4.1 : Demonstrate respect and compassion for the dignity and privacy of the patient while maintaining confidentiality in the delivery of team-based care (PB)
• SLO 4.2 : Demonstrate responsiveness to patient needs that supersedes self-interest (PB)
• SLO 4.3 : Demonstrate accountability to patients, society, and the profession (PB)
• SLO 4.4 : Demonstrate sensitivity and responsiveness to a diverse patient population, including but not limited to diversity in gender, age, culture, race, religion, disabilities, and sexual orientation (PB)
• SLO 4.5 : Demonstrate a commitment to personal wellness, including coping mechanisms  (PB)
• SLO 4.6 : Recognize one’s limits and establish healthy boundaries to support healthy partnerships (PB)

Goal 5 : Interprofessional Collaboration - Demonstrate the ability to engage in an interprofessional team in a manner that optimizes safe, effective patient- and population-centered care.

• SLO 5.1 : Work with other health professionals to establish and maintain a climate of mutual respect, dignity, diversity, ethical integrity, and trust (IPS, PB)
• SLO 5.2 : Recognize when referrals are needed and make them to the appropriate health care provider (MK)
• SLO 5.3 : Develop relationships and effectively communicate with physicians, other health professionals, and health care teams. (IPS, PB)
• SLO 5.4 : Use the full scope of knowledge, skills, and abilities of available health professionals to provide care that is safe, timely, efficient, effective, and equitable. (MK, IPS, CRPS)
   

Goal 6 : Practice-based learning & Improvement - Practice-based learning and improvement include engaging in critical analysis of one’s own experience, the medical literature, and other information resources for the purposes of self-evaluation, lifelong learning and practice improvement.

• SLO 6.1 : Develop the ability to use self-awareness of knowledge, skills, and emotional limitations to identify strengths, deficiencies, and limits of one’s knowledge (MK, CRPS, PB)
• SLO 6.2 : Use appropriate literature to make evidence-based decisions on patient care (MK, CRPS)
• SLO 6.3 : Recognize the value of the work of monitoring and reporting for quality improvement (MK)