University of Bridgeport Physician Assistant Institute
General Educational Objectives
History Taking & Performing Physical Examinations
Pertinent historical information associated with selected medical conditions
Risk factors for development of selected medical conditions
Signs and symptoms of selected medical conditions
Physical examination techniques
Physical examination findings associated with selected medical conditions
Appropriate physical examination directed to selected medical conditions
Differential diagnosis associated with presenting symptoms or physical finding
Cognitive skills in:
Conducting comprehensive and focused interviews
Identifying pertinent historical information
Performing comprehensive and focused physical examinations
Associating current complaint with presented history
Identifying pertinent physical examination information
Applying Basic Science Concept
Knowledge of:
Human anatomy
Physiology/Biochemistry
Pathophysiology
Clinical Lab and Microbiology
Recognizing normal and abnormal anatomy and physiology
Relating pathophysiologic principles to specific disease processes
Correlating abnormal physical examination findings to a given disease process
Correlating abnormal results of diagnostic tests to a given disease process
Knowledge of:
Epidemiology of selected medical conditions
Early detection and prevention of selected medical conditions
Relative value of common screening tests
Appropriate patient education regarding preventable conditions or lifestyle modifications
Healthy lifestyles
Prevention of communicable diseases
Immunization schedules and recommendations for infants, children, adults and foreign travelers
Risks and benefits of immunization
Human growth and development
Human sexuality
Occupational and environmental exposure
Impact of stress on health
Psychological manifestations of illness and injury
Effects of aging and changing family roles on health maintenance and disease prevention
Signs of abuse and neglect
Cognitive Skills in:
Using counseling and patient education techniques
Communicating effectively with patients to enhance health maintenance
Adapting health maintenance to the patient’s context
Using informational databases
Using Laboratory & Diagnostic Studies
Knowledge of:
Indications for initial and subsequent diagnostic or laboratory studies
Cost effectiveness of diagnostic studies or procedures
Relevance of common screening tests for selected medical conditions
Normal and abnormal diagnostic ranges
Risks associated with diagnostic studies or procedures
Appropriate patient education related to laboratory or diagnostic studies
Cognitive skills in:
Using diagnostic equipment safely and appropriately
Selecting appropriate diagnostic or laboratory studies
Collecting diagnostic or laboratory specimens
Interpreting diagnostic or laboratory studies results
Formulating Most Likely Diagnosis
Knowledge of:
Significance of history as it relates to differential diagnosis
Significance of physical findings as they relate to diagnosis
Significance of diagnostic and laboratory studies as they relate to diagnosis
Cognitive skills in:
Correlating normal and abnormal diagnostic data
Formulating differential diagnosis
Selecting the most likely diagnosis in light of presented data
Clinical Intervention
Management and treatment of selected medical conditions
Indications, contraindications, complications, risks, benefits and techniques for selected procedures
Standard precautions and special isolation conditions
Sterile technique
Follow-up and monitoring of therapeutic regimens
Conditions that constitute medical emergencies
Indications for admission to or discharge from hospitals or other facilities
Discharge planning
Available community resources
Appropriate community resources
Appropriate patient education
Roles of other health professionals
End-of-life issues
Risks and benefits of complementary and alternative medicine
Cognitive skills in:
Formulating and implementing treatment plans
Recognizing and initiating treatment for life-threatening emergencies
Demonstrating technical expertise related to performing specific procedures
Communicating effectively
Using counseling techniques
Facilitating patient adherence and active participation in treatment
Interacting effectively in multidisciplinary teams
Pharmaceutical Therapeutics
Knowledge of:
Mechanism of action
Indications for use
Contraindications
Side effects
Adverse reactions
Follow-up and monitoring of pharmacologic regimens
Risks of and for drug interactions
Clinical presentation of drug interactions
Treatment of drug interactions
Drug toxicity
Methods to reduce medication errors
Cross reactivity of similar medications
Recognition and treatment of allergic reactions
Cognitive skills in:
Selecting appropriate pharmacologic therapy for selected medical conditions
Monitoring pharmacologic regimens and adjusting as appropriate
Evaluating and reporting adverse drug reactions
Program Specific Competencies
At the completion of the didactic and clinical phases of the University of Bridgeport Physician Assistant Institute program the graduates will be able to demonstrate proficiency performing the following skills, tasks and procedures:
- Obtain a comprehensive patient history from available sources, including:
Patient demographics
Chief complaint
History of present illness or injury
Past medical/surgical history
Family history
Psycho/Social history
Medications
Allergies
Review of systems - Obtain a problem focused history, as appropriate
- Utilize information from the patient history to formulate a differential diagnosis
- Perform a comprehensive physical examination
- Perform a problem focused physical examination, as appropriate
- Obtain and interpret vital signs
- Distinguish between normal and abnormal physical examination findings
- Demonstrate interpersonal communication skills to develop professional rapport with patients, families and other healthcare professionals
- Demonstrate knowledge of normal ranges of laboratory tests
- Order laboratory and other diagnostic tests including but not limited to:
Hematology
Microbiology
Chemistry
Serology
Urinalysis
Blood gas
ECG
Peak flow
Plain x-ray - Demonstrate knowledge of risks of laboratory and diagnostic tests
- Interpret laboratory and other diagnostic tests
- Analyze findings obtained through history taking, physical examination and interpretation of diagnostics studies to formulate an accurate diagnosis
- Demonstrate ability to properly triage patients with acute injury or illness
- Perform the following diagnostic procedures:
ECG
Peak expiratory flow
Slit lamp examination
Visual acuity
Pap smear - Perform a pelvic exam including proper speculum, PAP smear and culture technique
- Demonstrate digital rectal exam and the ability to test stool for occult blood using guaiac cards
- Demonstrate evidence based clinical decision making skills in the formulation of a treatment plan
- Discuss the risks/benefits and economic impact associated with diagnostic tests used in formulating a diagnosis and medication/treatment choices used in the formulation of a treatment plan
- Properly organize and document through paper based or electronic based medical records to ensure that an accurate record of the patient encounter is created in compliance with current medical/legal standards
- Deliver accurate, concise oral presentations summarizing pertinent patient data.
- Provide patient education regarding symptoms, physical examination findings, laboratory and diagnostic tests, treatment plans and discharge instructions
- Determine when referral to additional services is required
- Facilitate referral to additional healthcare services
- Provide patient education and counseling regarding normal development and aging patterns, health maintenance, disease prevention, screening techniques, immunizations and the risk/benefits of various life style choices
- Demonstrate knowledge of the Physician Assistant certification/recertification and licensing processes
- Demonstrate knowledge of Connecticut State guidelines regarding the recognition and reporting of child abuse, elder abuse, and domestic violence
- Demonstrate professional integrity, honesty, dependability, respect for self and others, compassion, and an ability to protect patient confidentiality and trust at all times
- Demonstrate professional excellence, teamwork, tolerance for diversity and community service
- Demonstrate proper breast exam technique and the ability to instruct the patient regarding regular monthly self-breast exam
- Demonstrate proper testicular exam technique and the ability to instruct the patient regarding regular monthly self-testicular exam
- Perform a venipuncture and collect blood samples
- Perform an arterial puncture and collect blood samples
- Establish peripheral vascular access
- Establish central venous access
- Administration of IV fluids, medications, blood and blood products
- Establish vascular access through intraosseous technique
- Collect stool, urine, sputum, throat or wound drainage specimen for culture
- Perform a gram stain and interpret smear
- Perform injections including subcutaneous, intradermal, intravenous and intramuscular
- Administration of medication via the following routes:
Topical
Oral
Sublingual
Inhalation - Interpret intradermal skin test
- Insert a nasogastric tube
- Interpret an electrocardiogram
- Analyze spirometry readings
- Demonstrate proper technique for a lumbar puncture
- Perform a chemical and microscopic urinalysis
- Insert and remove a Foley catheter
- Demonstrate proper technique for a thoracentesis
- Demonstrate proper technique for a paracentesis
- Demonstrate the ability to utilize OSHA recommended Universal Precautions
- Demonstrate the ability to use aseptic technique and the ability to establish a sterile field
- Demonstrate proper wound care including skin closure using various suturing technique
- Apply casts and splints using proper materials and techniques
- Demonstrate the ability to determine when supplemental oxygen is required by a patient and the factors which must be considered when determining the best delivery method and rate of flow
- Demonstrate competency in the interpretation of plain radiographs of the chest, abdomen, spine and extremities
- Implementation of basic life support (CPR)
Rescue breathing
Chest compressions
FBAO removal - Implementation of Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
Defibrillation
Cardioversion
Pacing - Demonstrate knowledge and skill of basic airway management
Oropharyngeal airway
Nasopharyngeal airway
Suction
Bag valve mask ventilation
Pocket mask ventilation - Demonstrate knowledge and skill in advanced airway management
Endotracheal Intubation
Laryngeal mask airway (LMA)
Supraglottic airway (i.e. King LT Airway) - Demonstrate knowledge of advanced emergency airway management
Needle cricothyroidotomy
Surgical cricothyroidotomy - Monitor patient progress and response to treatment.
Graduates shall be able to demonstrate competency in the above skills, tasks and procedures without regard to gender, age, socioeconomic background. It is expected that the graduate will be competent regardless of medical setting or patient acuity Competencies are subject to change