GVSU PAS PROGRAM MISSION

To prepare highly competent physician assistants who embrace diversity, equity and inclusion; lead and advance the profession; and provide quality patient-centered healthcare in all communities and settings.

GVSU PAS Program Goals

1. MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE AND COMPETENCE IN PATIENT CARE: To provide physician assistant students with the knowledge and clinical skills to deliver effective and equitable healthcare.
2. PROFESSIONALISM: To inspire students to model the professional values and ethical behaviors expected of physician assistants.
3. COLLABORATIVE PRACTICE: To develop the interpersonal skills necessary for physician assistant students to communicate with patients and work effectively in interprofessional health care teams.
4. LIFELONG LEARNING: To develop the skills necessary for physician assistant students to appraise and assimilate medical literature applicable for clinical practice and to continuously improve patient care based on constant self-evaluation and life long learning.

Competency Theme: Medical Knowledge

Competency: Demonstrates Medical Knowledge, Clinical Reasoning, and Problem-Solving Ability of Sufficient Breadth and Depth to Practice medicine as an entry-level Physician Assistant.

Program Learning Outcomes (ARC-PA)/Student Learning Outcomes (GVSU): At the completion of the GVSU PAS program, students should be able to:

1. Recall core knowledge about established and evolving biomedical and clinical sciences and application of this knowledge to patient care in their area of practice
2. Describe foundational knowledge in pathophysiology, etiology, epidemiology, patient presentation, differential diagnosis, diagnostic work-up, patient management, surgical principles, health promotion, and disease prevention for a variety of acute and chronic medical conditions across the lifespan
3. Apply foundational knowledge in pathophysiology, etiology, epidemiology, patient presentation, differential diagnosis, diagnostic work-up, patient management, surgical principles, health promotion, and disease prevention for a variety of acute and chronic medical conditions across the lifespan

Competency Theme: Patient Care

Competency: Provide person-centered care that includes patient- and setting-specific assessment, evaluation, management, and health promotion.

Program Learning Outcomes (ARC-PA)/Student Learning Outcomes (GVSU): At the completion of the GVSU PAS program, students should be able to:

1. Elicit a detailed and accurate patient history
2. Perform appropriate physical examination
3. Order and interpret diagnostic tests on patients
4. Organize information from the interview, diagnostic testing, and physical examination to formulate differential diagnoses, assessments, and treatment plans.
5. Demonstrate basic technical skills

Competency Theme: Interpersonal and Communication Skills

Competency: Demonstrate verbal and non-verbal communication skills needed to have respectful, compassionate, and effective conversations with patients, patients' families, and health professionals to exchange information and make medical decisions.

Program Learning Outcomes (ARC-PA)/Student Learning Outcomes (GVSU): At the completion of the GVSU PAS program, students should be able to:

1. Listen empathetically and effectively
2. Document information clearly and accurately at an appropriate level for patients, colleagues, and teachers.
3. Communicate information clearly to patients, families, colleagues, and teams as appropriate across a broad range of socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds.
4. Facilitate difficult health care conversations
5. Utilize shared decision-making to promote patient-centered communication by eliciting and incorporating patient preferences

Competency Theme: Professionalism

Competency: Commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities and adhering to ethical principles and practice.

Program Learning Outcomes (ARC-PA)/Student Learning Outcomes (GVSU): At the completion of the GVSU PAS program, students should be able to:

1. Demonstrate compassion, integrity, and respect for others
2. Demonstrate responsiveness to patient needs that supersede self-interest
3. Show accountability to patients, society, and the profession
4. Demonstrate leadership and advocacy for the PA profession

Competency Theme: Practice-Based Learning and Proficiency Improvement

Competency: Demonstrate the ability to acquire, appraise and apply evidence-based medicine to classroom activities and patient care, as well as accurately assess and improve classroom and clinical performance based on constant self-evaluation and life-long learning.

Program Learning Outcomes (ARC-PA)/Student Learning Outcomes (GVSU): At the completion of the GVSU PAS program, students should be able to:

1. Seek, implement, and accept feedback.
2. Reflect on performance to identify strengths and deficiencies in one’s knowledge and expertise and develop a plan for self-improvement.
3. Locate, appraise, and integrate evidence-based studies related to patient care and life-long learning.

Competency Theme: Systems-Based Practice

Competency: Demonstrate the ability to engage with various other healthcare professionals in a manner that optimizes patient care within the context of the larger healthcare system.

Program Learning Outcomes (ARC-PA)/Student Learning Outcomes (GVSU): At the completion of the GVSU PAS program, students should be able to:

1. Promote a safe environment for patient care
2. Demonstrate knowledge of quality improvement methodologies and metrics
3. Recognize the unique roles of PAs and those of other healthcare professions in patient care
4. Work effectively with other health professionals to provide collaborative, patient-centered care.
5. Work effectively in various healthcare delivery settings within the larger healthcare system.
6. Incorporate considerations of cost awareness and funding sources into patient care
7. Describe basic health payment systems and practice models