PANCE 2019 and Beyond
Content Blueprint Task Areas
The list of tasks below include knowledge and skill areas that were identified as important to physician assistant practice through an intensive practice analysis. These knowledge areas and cognitive skills are covered on PANCE.
Each question you encounter will address an organ system and a task area from the table below.
*Percentage allocations may vary slightly
Knowledge of:
General physical examination components and techniques
Pertinent historical information
Risk factors for development of significant medical conditions
Significant physical examination findings
Signs and symptoms of significant medical conditions
Skills in:
Conducting comprehensive and/or problem-based interviews and physical examinations
Eliciting patient information from other sources
Identifying conditions requiring referral to or consultation with specialists
Identifying pertinent patient and family historical information from patients and caregivers
Identifying pertinent physical examination information
Triaging of patients based on recognition of abnormal vital signs, examination findings, and/or general observations
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Knowledge of:
Appropriate patient education relating to diagnostic and laboratory studies
Indications for initial and subsequent diagnostic and laboratory studies
Indications for preventive screening tests
Risks associated with diagnostic and laboratory studies
Skills in:
Collecting diagnostic and laboratory specimens
Communicating risks, benefits, and results effectively to other members of the health care team
Communicating risks, benefits, and results effectively to patients, families, and caregivers
Reviewing and interpreting results of diagnostic and laboratory studies, and correlating the results with history and physical examination findings
Selecting appropriate diagnostic and/or laboratory studies
Using diagnostic equipment safely and appropriately
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Knowledge of:
Significance of diagnostic and laboratory studies as they relate to diagnosis
Significance of history as it relates to the differential diagnosis
Significance of physical examination findings as they relate to diagnosis
Skills in:
Developing multiple differential diagnoses for complicated and/or multisystem cases
Formulating most likely differential diagnoses
Incorporating history, physical examination findings, and diagnostic data into medical decision-making
Recognizing the need for referral to a specialist
Selecting the most likely diagnosis in light of presented data
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Knowledge of:
Appropriate patient education regarding preventable conditions and lifestyle modifications
Barriers to care
Early detection and prevention of medical conditions
Effects of aging and changing family roles
Epidemiology of medical conditions
Genetic testing and counseling
Human growth and development
Human sexuality and gender identity, gender transition, and associated medical issues
Immunization schedules and recommendations for infants, children, adults, and foreign travelers/adoptions
Impact of patient demographics on risks for medical conditions
Knowledge of relevant databases/resources
Prevention of communicable diseases
Preventive screening recommendations
Psychosocial effects of illness, stress, and injury as well as related healthy coping strategies
Signs of abuse and neglect
Wellness of health care providers
Skills in:
Adapting health maintenance to an individual patient’s context
Addressing barriers to vaccination
Communicating effectively with and educating patients, family members, and caregivers
Conducting education on modifiable risk factors with an emphasis on primary and secondary prevention
Using counseling techniques
Using evidence-based practice guidelines
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Knowledge of:
Clinical procedures and their indications, contraindications, complications, risks, benefits, and techniques
Conditions that constitute medical emergencies
Criteria for admission to or discharge from the hospital or other facilities
Management, treatment, and follow-up of medical conditions
Palliative care and end-of-life issues
Roles of other health professionals
Sterile technique
Therapeutic regimens
Universal precautions and special isolation conditions
Skills in:
Demonstrating technical expertise related to performing specific procedures
Evaluating patient response to treatment/intervention
Facilitating patient/caregiver adherence to and active participation in treatment
Formulating and implementing treatment plans in accordance with applicable practice guidelines
Interfacing in multidisciplinary teams, including education of other health care professionals
Making appropriate dispositions
Monitoring and managing nutritional status
Prioritizing tasks
Recognizing and initiating treatment for life-threatening conditions
Using community resources to meet the needs of patients/caregivers
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Knowledge of:
Adverse effects, reactions, and toxicities
Common alternative/complementary therapies and their interactions and toxicities
Contraindications
Drug interactions, including presentation and treatment
Indications for use
Mechanism of action
Methods to reduce medication errors
Monitoring and follow-up of pharmacologic regimens
Presentation and treatment of allergic reactions
Regulation of controlled substances
Special populations requiring drug/dose modification
Substances of abuse
Skills in:
Assessing patient adherence to drug regimens
Drafting a prescription
Evaluating, treating, and reporting adverse drug reactions and/or adverse effects
Identifying and managing medication misuse
Interacting with pharmacists to address medication issues
Maintaining knowledge of relevant pharmacologic agents
Monitoring pharmacologic regimens and adjusting as appropriate
Prescribing controlled substances appropriately
Selecting appropriate pharmacologic therapy and dosing
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Knowledge of:
Skills in:
Evaluating emerging medical trends critically as they relate to patient care
Maintaining awareness of trends in infectious disease
Relating pathophysiologic principles to specific disease processes
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Legal/medical ethics
Knowledge of:
Cultural and religious beliefs related to health care
Informed consent and refusal process
Living will, advance directives, organ donation, code status, do not resuscitate, do not intubate, medical power of attorney, etc.
Medicolegal issues
Patient/provider rights and responsibilities
Privacy, security, and responsibility related to medical record documentation and management
Skill in:
Medical informatics
Knowledge of:
Skill in:
Patient care and communication (individual patients)
Knowledge of:
Affordable and effective health care that is patient specific
Cultural and religious diversity
Stewardship of patient and community resources
Skill in:
Acknowledging and applying patient/provider rights and responsibilities
Ensuring patient satisfaction
Providing patient advice and education regarding the informed consent and refusal process
Providing patient advice and education related to end-of-life decisions
Providing patient-specific education, advice, counseling, and referral
Physician/PA relationship
Knowledge of:
Professional and clinical limitations, scope of practice, etc.
Supervision parameters: malpractice, mandated reporting, conflict of interest, impaired provider, ethical principles
Skill in:
Professional development
Knowledge of:
Skill in:
Critically analyzing evidence-based medicine
Identifying and interpreting data from medical informatics sources and identifying appropriate reference sources
Using epidemiologic techniques to evaluate the spread of disease
Public health (population/society)
Knowledge of:
Basic disaster preparedness
Infection control measures and response to outbreaks
Occupational health issues as they pertain to health care as well as non–health care workers
Population health, travel health, and epidemiology of disease states
Skill in:
Risk management
Knowledge of:
Skill in:
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