Program Outcomes/Competencies

Program Outcomes Index

  1. Medical Knowledge
  2. Interpersonal skills
  3. Clinical and technical skills
  4. Professional behaviors
  5. Clinical reasoning

Program Outcomes

MUSC Division of Physician Assistant Studies Graduates will possess the knowledge, skills, and attitudes necessary to demonstrate entry-level proficiency in the following program outcomes.

1. Medical Knowledge
Formulate a differential diagnosis, including common medical and behavioral problems seen in a primary care setting, and recommend the proper diagnostic studies and treatments with knowledge of basic sciences and through on-going critical evaluation of medical literature for current practice guidelines and application of the principles of evidence-based medicine to patient care.

Timing

Instruction

Milestones/Measures

Didactic Curriculum

  • PA 606 Human Anatomy
  • PA 614, 615, 616 Fundamentals of Clinical Medicine I, II, III
  • PA 617, 618, 619 Clinical Problem Solving I, II, III
  • PA 624, 625, 626 Pharmacotherapeutics I, II, III
  • PA 632 Principles of Pharmacology
  • PA 634 History and Physical Examination Skills
  • PA 636 Clinical Skills and Procedures
  • PA 642 Pertinent Topics in Pediatrics
  • PA 643 Human Physiology and Basic Pathophysiology
  • PA 651 Geriatrics
  • PA 652 Principles of Emergency Medicine
  • PA 653 Principles of Surgical Care
  • PA 654, 655 Diagnostic Medicine I, II
  • PA 662 and 663 Pathophysiology I & II
  • PA 690, 691 Graduate Project I, II
  • PA 695 Research Methods
  • Successful completion of all didactic courses with a grade of 2.0 or higher.

  • Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher each semester of the program.  

Clinical Curriculum

  •  Supervised Clinical Practice Experiences (SCPEs) 1-9
  •  Achieve a 75% or higher on the Summative Evaluation OSCE

  • Complete each SCPE with GPA of 3.0 or higher.

  • Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher each semester of the program.

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2. Interpersonal Skills
Based on patient-centered, sensitive and empathetic interactions guided by the patient’s emotional state, culture and socioeconomic background, accurately and concisely communicate patient encounters and their outcomes to the entire healthcare team in both oral and written forms. Communicate effectively and respectfully with patients and their families and caregivers.

 

Timing

Instruction

Milestones/Measures

Didactic Curriculum

  • PA 617, 618, 619 Clinical Problem Solving I, II, III
  • PA 630 Bioethics
  • PA 634 History and Physical Examination Skills
  • PA 636 Clinical Skills and Procedures
  • PA 642 Pertinent Topics in Pediatrics
  • PA 651 Geriatrics
  • IP 711 IP Foundations & TeamSTEPPS®
  • IP 768 Public Health
  • Successful completion of all didactic courses with a grade of 2.0 or higher.

  • Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher each semester of the program.

Clinical Curriculum

  • SCPEs 1-9
  • Achieve a combined average grade of >= 3.0 from a preceptor on Clinical Performance and Professional Performance on all SCPE preceptor evaluations

  • Achieve a 75% or higher on the Summative Evaluation OSCE

  • Complete each SCPE with GPA of 3.0 or higher.

  • Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher each semester of the program.

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3. Clinical and Technical Skills
Develop, implement and monitor management plans for emergent, acute, chronic and ongoing conditions with pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions including surgery, counseling, therapeutic procedures and/or rehabilitative therapies, based upon findings from focused histories and physical examinations, appropriate diagnostic studies, test result interpretation, and clinical procedures across the life span and in a variety of health care delivery settings.

Timing

Instruction

Milestones/Measures

Didactic Curriculum

  • PA 614, 615, 616 Fundamentals of Clinical Medicine I, II, III
  • PA 617, 618, 619 Clinical Problem Solving I, II, III
  • PA 624, 625, 626 Pharmacotherapeutics I, II, III
  • PA 632 Principles of Pharmacology
  • PA 634 History and Physical Examination Skills
  • PA 636 Clinical Skills and Procedures
  • PA 642 Pertinent Topics in Pediatrics
  • PA 651 Geriatrics
  • PA 652 Principles of Emergency Medicine
  • PA 653 Principles of Surgical Care
  • PA 654, 655 Diagnostic Medicine I, II
  • Successful completion of all didactic courses with a grade of 2.0 or higher.

  • Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher each semester of the program.

Clinical Curriculum

  • SCPEs 1-9
  • Achieve a 75% or higher on the Summative Evaluation OSCE

  • Complete each SCPE with GPA of 3.0 or higher.

  • Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher each semester of the program.

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4. Professional behaviors
Demonstrate behaviors consistent with the highest ethical and legal standards.

Timing

Instruction

Milestones/Measures

Didactic Year

  • PA 607 Introduction to the PA Profession
  • PA 624, 625, 626 Pharmacotherapeutics I, II, III
  • PA 630 Bioethics
  • PA 632 Principles of Pharmacology
  • PA 636 Clinical Skills & Procedures
  • PA 642 Pertinent Topics in Pediatrics
  • PA 651 Geriatrics
  • PA 652 Principles of Emergency Medicine
  • PA 653 Principles of Surgical Care
  • PA 654, 655 Diagnostic Medicine I, II
  • IP 711 IP Foundation & Teamstepps®
  • IP 768 Public Health
  • Successful completion of all didactic courses with a grade of 2.0 or higher.

  • Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher each semester of the program.

Clinical Year

  • SCPEs 1-9
  • Achieve a 75% or higher on the Summative Evaluation OSCE

  • Complete each SCPE with GPA of 3.0 or higher.

  • Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher each semester of the program.

  • In “Good” Professional Standing at the completion of the program.

  • Achieve a 75% or higher on Professionalism MCQ Exam

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5. Clinical reasoning
Competently address the patient’s chief complaint by:

  • Establishing differential diagnoses
  • Eliciting a patient history
  • Performing a focused physical exam
  • Ordering diagnostic studies
  • Forming an assessment and developing a management plan

Timing

Instruction

Milestones/Measures

Didactic Year

  • PA 614, 615, 616 Fundamentals of Clinical Medicine I, II, III
  • PA 617, 618, 619 Clinical Problem Solving I, II, III
  • PA 624, 625, 626 Pharmacotherapeutics I, II, III
  • PA 632 Principles of Pharmacology
  • PA 634 History and Physical Examination Skills
  • PA 642 Pertinent Topics in Pediatrics
  • PA 651 Geriatrics
  • PA 652 Principles of Emergency Medicine
  • PA 653 Principles of Surgical Care
  • PA 654, 655 Diagnostic Medicine I, II
  • Successful completion of all didactic courses with a grade of 2.0 or higher.

  • Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher each semester of the program.

Clinical Year

  • SCPEs 1-9
  • Achieve a 75% or higher on the Summative Evaluation OSCE

  • Complete each SCPE with GPA of 3.0 or higher.

  • Maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher each semester of the program.

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