Upon completion of this rotation, the Physician Associate student will be able to obtain and record pertinent historical and physical data, obtain indicated laboratory studies, assess the results, arrive at a diagnosis, formulate a treatment plan, and implement appropriate therapy under supervision to the acutely ill or injured patient presenting to the Emergency Department (A&E).It is important to remember that the primary purpose of this experience is to prepare Physician Associate students to deal professionally and confidently with general medical issues they may encounter in a variety of healthcare settings. The focus is therefore on common and important medical presentations that are seen in ED and their management.
Objectives
History Taking and Consultation Skills
The student will be able to obtain a comprehensive history from a patient, relative, or other informed party for the evaluation
Physical Examination
The student will be able to perform appropriate physical examinations, distinguish normal from abnormal examination findings, and comprehensively record examination findings in a logical and systematic way.
Clinical Judgement in Diagnosis and Management
The student will use laboratory and diagnostic studies appropriately to support or modify tentative diagnostic impressions.
Therapeutics and Prescribing
The student will be able to propose pharmacological therapy, demonstrating understanding of the indications, contraindications, major side-effects/adverse reactions and correct dosing for medications commonly used in the ED.
Clinical Planning and Procedures
The student will analyse information obtained from the history, physical exam, diagnostic tests, and procedures to formulate a problem list, develop a comprehensive, prioritised differential diagnosis list, and utilise all available clinical data to accurately recognise and diagnose common and important conditions seen in the ED.
Emergency Department Presentations
Physician Associate students in the ED will likely see a variety of conditions over a range of specialities. The student will be able to assess patient presentations in alignment with the GMC’s PA Registration Assessment (PARA) content map, and propose appropriate management plans. The 18 areas of clinical practice stipulated by the PARA content map are:
- Acute and emergency care (including toxicology)
- Cardiovascular
- Child and adolescent health
- Clinical haematology
- Dermatology
- Ear, nose and throat (ENT)
- Ophthalmology
- Obstetrics and gynaecology
- Endocrine and metabolic
- Gastrointestinal
- Infection (including sexually transmitted infections)
- Mental health
- Musculoskeletal
- Neurosciences
- Renal and urology
- Respiratory
- Surgery
- Palliative and end of life care