Competencies

Program Competencies (A2.05a, A3.12g)

Upon completion of the FIU MPAS program, graduates will demonstrate entry-level proficiency as Physicians Assistants in the following areas:

Key

• Knowledge for Practice (KP)

  The core competencies of Knowledge for Practice seek to ensure that the Physician Assistant (PA) student continually investigates, questions, and pursues new knowledge.

  Competency		Domains
  KP1	Demonstrate investigative and critical thinking in clinical situations. [AAPA 1.1]	MK
  KP2	Apply principles of epidemiology to identify health problems, risk factors, treatment strategies, resources, and disease prevention/health promotion efforts for individuals and populations. [AAPA 1.3]	MK
  KP3	Discern among acute, chronic, and emergent disease states. [AAPA 1.4]	MK
  KP4	Apply principles of clinical sciences to diagnose disease and utilize therapeutic decision-making, clinical problem-solving, and other evidence-based practice skills. [AAPA 1.5]	MK CRPS

• Interpersonal and Communication Skills (ICS)

  The Interpersonal and Communication Skills core competencies enable the PA student to successfully receive and share information, establishing and maintaining a foundation of trust with all parties so that the environment is open and encouraging for honest dialogue.

  Competency		Domains
  ICS1	Communicate effectively to elicit and provide information. [AAPA 2.3]	ICS
  ICS2	Accurately and adequately document medical information for clinical, legal, quality, and financial purposes. [AAPA 2.4]	ICS

• Person-Centered Care (PCC)

  The core competencies of Person-Centered Care seek to ensure that the PA student develops the ability to actively listen and attain medical histories, diagnose, properly inform and educate, and prescribe and perform necessary procedures in a way that maximizes patient comfort.

  Competency		Domains
  PCC1	Gather accurate and essential information about patients through history-taking, physical examination, and diagnostic testing. [AAPA 3.1]	PC
  PCC2	Interpret data based on patient information and preferences, current scientific evidence, and clinical judgment to make informed decisions about diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. [AAPA 3.3]	PC CRPS
  PCC3	Develop, implement, and monitor effectiveness of patient management plans. [AAPA 3.4]	PC
  PCC4	Maintain proficiency to perform safely all medical, diagnostic, and surgical procedures considered essential for the practice specialty.[AAPA 3.5]	PC
  PCC5	Counsel, educate, and empower patients and their families to participate in their care and enable shared decision-making. [AAPA 3.6]	PC

• Interprofessional Collaboration (IC)

  Demonstrate the ability to engage with a variety of other healthcare professionals in a manner that optimizes safe, effective, patient- and population-centered care.

  Competency		Domains
  IC1	Communicate effectively with colleagues and other professionals to establish and enhance interprofessional teams. [AAPA 4.2]	ICS, P
  IC2	Recognize when to refer patients to other disciplines to ensure that patients receive optimal care at the right time and appropriate level. [AAPA 3.3]	ICS

• Professionalism and Ethics (PE)

  The Professionalism and Ethics core competencies enable the PA student to treat all people with respect, compassion, and dignity.

  Competency		Domains
  PE1	Adhere to standards of care in the role of the PA in the healthcare team. [AAPA 5.1]	P
  PE2	Show commitment to ethical principles pertaining to provision or withholding of care, confidentiality, patient autonomy, informed consent, business practices, and compliance with relevant laws, policies, and regulations. [AAPA 5.6]	P

• Practice-Based Learning and Quality Improvement (PBLQI)

  The core competencies in Practice-Based Learning and Quality Improvement seek to ensure that the PA student becomes a life-long learner, develops the skills necessary to evaluate medical research and its appropriate application to the practice of medicine.

  Competency		Domains
  PBLQI	Identify, analyze, and adopt new knowledge, guidelines, standards, technologies, products, or services that have been demonstrated to improve outcomes. [AAPA 6.2]	PBLI CRPS

• Society and Population Health (SPH)

  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.

  Competency		Domains
  SPH1	Apply principles of social-behavioral sciences by assessing the impact of psychosocial and cultural influences on health, disease, care seeking, and compliance. [AAPA 7.1]	CRPS
  SPH2	Recognize the influence of genetic, socioeconomic, environmental, and other determinants on the health of the individual and community. [AAPA 7.2]	CRPS