PA Graduate Competencies
The UW–Madison Physician Assistant (PA) program is dedicated to the preparation and education of knowledgeable, competent, professional, and compassionate PAs to meet the health care needs of Wisconsin (and beyond) through excellence in education, research, patient care and service, while significantly contributing to and advancing the PA profession.
Graduate Competencies
- Medical Knowledge (MK): Understand essential medical knowledge needed to provide patient care.
- Medical History (Hist): Elicit an appropriate history for new, interval, and acute patient encounters.
- Physical Examination (PE): Perform complete and focused physical examinations.
- Clinical Reasoning (CR): Process, and integrate information to develop an appropriate differential diagnosis and clinical impression.
- Diagnostic Studies (Diag): Identify, order, and interpret appropriate diagnostic studies.
- Therapeutics (TH): Formulate an appropriate and comprehensive therapeutic plan.
- Interpersonal Communication With Patients and Families (PTCOM): Communicate effectively with patients and their loved ones to facilitate understanding and collaborate on treatment plans.
- Interpersonal Communication With Health Professionals (MEDCOM): Utilize effective oral and written communication to collaborate with other health professionals.
- Professionalism (PROF): Demonstrate the skills, attributes and behaviors of a competent PA and serve as a member of the professional medical community.
- Technical Skills (TS): Demonstrate proficiency in common procedures and other technical skills as defined by the program.