Penn State Hershey
        Medical Education

Primary Care Competencies

Interpersonal Skills

1. Develop appropriate working relationships with office staff, faculty and other professionals.
2. Identify and demonstrate the following in patient care.

• Ability to introduce self, and establish rapport with patients.
• Ability to ask open ended questions, listen to the patient and respond to the patients perspective; develop an awareness of hidden agendas and psychosocial issues.
• Identify the steps involved in appropriately closing an office visit.

3. Assist patients in identifying and expressing their values and preferences regarding medical interventions near the end of life.
4. Demonstrate Professional and Personal Growth & Development, including Self-directive Learning - identifying key information sources, searching and critical appraisal of literature.