Masters in Physician Assistant Studies

Physician Assistant is able to:

Exhibit Professional Behavior:

• Adhere to code of medical ethics
• Act with respect, integrity, and compassion
• Function as a patient advocate
• Adhere to applicable governmental rules, regulations and statutes
• Adhere to employer’s policies and procedures
• Participate in professional organizations
• Promote the Physician Assistant Profession
• Participate in community education activities
• Participate in continuing medical education
• Function as a member of the medical team
• Accept accountability for own actions and decisions
• Manage time
• Manage stress

Perform in-house & outpatient evaluations, pre-operative assessments:

• Review patient’s medical records for pertinent information
• Obtain a medical history from the patient
• Perform daily rounds
• Perform an accurate physical examination
• Document accurate history and physical exam findings
• Assess medical history
• Assess physical exam findings to facilitate appropriate next steps
• Formulate a therapeutic plan
• Order and interpret diagnostic studies relative to patient care
• Communicate findings to the physician
• Implement physician’s instructions
• Perform pre-operative daily rounds
• Triage emergency patients

Assist in:

• Gather and present pertinent data
• Prepare specialized surgical equipment
• Position patient
• Perform surgical prep
• Maintain sterile technique and universal precautions
• Drape patient
• Provide exposure of operative site
• Provide retraction
• Provide hemostasis
• Utilize surgical equipment
• Anticipate surgeon’s needs

Surgical Procedures:

• Gown, scrub, and glove
• Maintain asepsis
• Tie surgical knots
• Suture
• Dissect and debride tissues
• Utilize tissue specific handling techniques
• Apply dressing
• Demonstrate physical endurance
• Adapt to changes
• Exhibit manual dexterity
• Perform specialty-specific advanced surgical skills
• Perform a cutdown

Perform Patient evaluations/ assessments:

• Review of patient record
• Assess patient  status
• Document in patient record
• Implement approved therapeutic plan
• Order and interpret diagnostic studies
• Communicate findings to the physician and the health care team
• Analyze and utilize medical literature

Provide Post Operative Care:

• Evaluate the wound
• Treat wound as indicated
• Change dressings
• Advance and remove drains
• Remove sutures and staples
• Insert and remove tubes and monitoring lines
• Communicate with support services
• Formulate and implement discharge planning and outpatient follow-up as indicated

Perform Bedside Procedures:

• Perform CPR Perform First-Aid
• Perform urinary catheterization
• Perform venipuncture
• Maintain, apply and remove casts
• Apply and adjust orthopedic appliances
• Assist in closed reductions
• Utilize basic monitoring equipment
• Utilize advanced monitoring equipment
• Treat non-surgical wounds as indicated
• Recognize and treat conditions as indicated
• Perform ACLS and ATLS

Provide Patient/Family Education Performance:

• Educate patient/family about medical matters or procedure
• Educate patient/family about disease process
• Review/reinforce physician’s communication to patient/family
• Obtain informed consent
• Reassure patient about procedure
• Teach wound management
• Instruct patient/family in home care
• Teach patients preventive medical care
• Instruct patient in the use of medication and their side effects
• Refer patient to continuing health/social services

Utilize Communication Skills:

• Describe findings/ information in a concise, consecutive manner
• Utilize appropriate medical terminology
• Write standard, grammatical English legibly
• Utilize non-judgmental responses
• Prepare oral/written presentations
• Exchange knowledge with the patient and other medical and ancillary personnel
• Utilize a variety of communication methods and media
• Adapt  information to recipient’s level of understanding
• Respond to verbal/non-verbal signals
• Exhibit empathy
• Recognize cultural differences and the impact on patient care

Develop Administrative and Management Skills:

• Resolve conflicts
• Develop and maintain departmental budget
• Coordinate work assignments for Physician Assistants
• Interview, hire, evaluate and discharge personnel
• Update job descriptions
• Monitor patient’s care for cost containment and cost effectiveness
• Recruit schedule and attend CME programs
• Use information technology to support patient care and patient education
• Maintain continuous quality improvement in practice
• Implement Total Quality Management for customer’s satisfaction
• Apply medical information and clinical data to provide effective and efficient patient care
• Implement marketing strategies
• Follow third-party payment guidelines
• Implement responsible resource management
• Develop sources of revenue

Outcome Focus:

• Successful performance on formative assessments that will indicate mastery of the learning goals
• Successful completion of the PA program
• Successful completion of the PANCE
• Strong knowledge base and professional behaviors that meet or exceed the expected Standards of Education for Physician Assistants set forth by the ARC-PA.