Upon completion of this placement, the Physician Associate student will be able to elicit a problem-oriented medical history, perform pertinent physical examinations, obtain and interpret indicated lab studies, formulate a management plan, and implement appropriate therapy for common general medical problems under supervision.
It is important to remember that the primary purpose of this experience is to prepare Physician Associate students to deal professionally and confidentially with general medical health issues they may encounter in a variety of healthcare settings. The focus is therefore on common and important general medical problems and their management.
History Taking and Consultation Skills
The student will be able to obtain and record a complete and accurate medical history from any patient.
Physical Examination
The student will be able to perform an appropriate physical examination, distinguish normal from abnormal physical findings and comprehensively record 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 pharmacologic therapy, demonstrating understanding of the indications, contraindications, major side-effects/adverse reactions and correct dosing schedules for medications commonly used in general medicine.
Clinical Planning and Procedures
The student will analyse information obtained from the history, physical exam, diagnostic tests, and procedures to recognise and diagnose common conditions in the adult patient, formulate a problem list, develop a comprehensive, prioritised differential diagnosis list, and utilise all available clinical data to accurately determine the diagnosis.
General Medical Problems
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