In preparation for certification and professional practice as a Physician Assistant, the PA student must graduate from a competency-based, entry-level, and accredited PA program. Informed by the PA profession competencies developed in collaboration with the four national PA organizations and guided by the Standards for Physician Assistant Education as set forth by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA), the Campbell PA Program has adopted the following set of competencies which must be attained by each student by the time of program completion.
Demonstrate knowledge about established and evolving biomedical and clinical sciences and the application of this knowledge to patient care. Campbell PA graduates should be able to:
KP1 – Identify signs & symptoms associated with commonly presenting disorders
KP2 – Apply clinical reasoning and problem-solving abilities to develop a differential diagnosis for commonly presenting complaints
KP3 – Order and interpret high-value laboratory and diagnostic tests based on patient-specific factors
KP4 – Appropriately and safely utilize clinical and therapeutic interventions
KP5 – Perform common clinical and technical skills
Demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in the effective exchange of information and collaboration with patients, their families, and health professionals. Campbell PA graduates should be able to:
ICS1 – Utilize effective communication skills with patients and families.
ICS2 – Deliver a concise, organized oral patient presentation
ICS3 – Record accurate and appropriately formatted medical documentation
Provide person-centered care that includes patient- and setting-specific assessment, evaluation, and management and health care that is evidence-based, supports patient safety, and advances health equity. Campbell PA graduates should be able to:
PCC1 – Practice a holistic approach to patient care
PCC2 – Obtain both a comprehensive and problem-focused history
PCC3 – Perform both a problem-focused and comprehensive physical exam
PCC4 – Develop a person-centered treatment plan, taking the patient context into consideration
Demonstrate the ability to engage with a variety of other health care professionals in a manner that optimizes safe, effective, person- and population-centered care. Campbell PA graduates should be able to:
IPCP1 – Identify appropriate referrals and community resources to meet patients’ social and medical needs
IPCP2 – Develop and engage in collaborative interprofessional relationships within the healthcare team
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. Campbell PA graduates should be able to:
PE1 – Demonstrate awareness of appropriate professional behavior and insight regarding clinical practice limitations
PE2 – Practice cultural humility with patients and interprofessional team members
PE3 – Develop personal wellness and self-care patterns that support the provision of quality patient care
PE4 – Implement servant leadership practices and principles
PE5 – Advocate for the PA profession
Demonstrate the ability to learn and implement quality improvement practices by engaging in critical analysis of one’s own practice experience, the medical literature, and other information resources for the purposes of self-evaluation, lifelong learning, and practice improvement. Campbell PA graduates should be able to:
PBLQI1 – Apply appropriate evidence-based health maintenance guidelines for prevention and screening based upon patient age and/or presentation
PBLQI2 – Utilize current evidence-based medicine in the care and management of patients
PBLQI3 – Use feedback to make performance improvements
PBLQI4 – Reflect on strengths and weaknesses of knowledge and practice and affect change to address deficiencies
Recognize and understand the influences of the ecosystem of person, family, population, environment, and policy on the health of patients and integrate knowledge of these determinants of health into patient care decisions. Campbell PA graduates should be able to:
SPH1 – Provide equitable, inclusive and quality care to all patients
SPH2 – Identify and address social determinants that adversely affect access to care and the delivery of quality health care
SPH3 – Apply principles of epidemiology and public health to identify health problems, risk factors, treatment strategies, resources, and support disease prevention/health promotion efforts for communities