PA Program Competencies:
Graduates of the West Chester University Physician Assistant Program will be able to competently:
- Apply a core fund of medical knowledge, critical-thinking skills, and clinical skills needed to provide care to patients.
- Accurately elicit a patient history and perform the appropriate physical examination.
- Recommend and interpret diagnostic studies based on patient presentation.
- Utilize clinical reasoning skills to diagnose and treat patients of all ages.
- Initiate treatment for acute and chronic medical and behavioral health conditions including patient education, medications, surgical interventions, counseling, rehabilitative therapies, or other therapeutic modalities.
- Screen for risk factors or presence of common diseases and recommend appropriate health promotion and disease prevention measures.
- Perform common diagnostic studies and clinical procedures.
- Document patient encounters in the most appropriate format for the clinical setting.
- Communicate with patients, families, other healthcare team members, and the public in a clear, empathetic, culturally-sensitive way.
- Apply relevant medical literature to patient encounters to provide evidence-based care.
- Work to the full scope of the PA role on the healthcare team while collaborating with other healthcare providers to provide effective patient care.
- Incorporate patients’ values and goals into shared decision-making.
- Behave ethically, professionally, and inclusively.
- Assess, evaluate, and improve their patient-care practices.
- Contribute to the advancement of the profession through leadership, advocacy, research, or education.