Physician Assistant

Introduction

Physician assistants are healthcare professionals licensed (or when employed by the federal government, credentialed)  to practice medicine with physician supervision. As part of their comprehensive responsibilities, PAs conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery, and write prescriptions. Within the physician-PA relationship, physician assistants exercise autonomy in medical decision making and provide a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services. A PA's practice may also include education, research, and administrative services. PAs increase patient access to primary care, promote cost savings, and improve practice efficiency and productivity. 

Philosophy

The PA program curriculum and related clinical experiences emphasize patient-centered, primary healthcare needs in rural, medically-underserved areas (MUAs) and health professional shortage areas (HPSAs). The program aims to educate PA graduates who will improve access to primary health care and advance the coordinated and comprehensive delivery of high-quality, cost-effective medical care in a variety of healthcare settings.

The PA program curriculum reflects a philosophy of lifelong learning and patient-centered care. Coursework integrates medical treatment modalities with health promotion, behavioral medicine, and disease prevention to meet patients’ needs in a changing healthcare environment.

PA faculty and clinical preceptors serve as mentors for students, modeling professional ethics and attitudes and demonstrating required medical knowledge and skills. The course of study emphasizes case-based learning and a systems approach, linking theory and practice. Students learn to value and practice interdisciplinary teamwork and healthcare delivery to diverse populations.

Application

Applicants must apply online through CASPA, the Central Application Service for Physician Assistants, at www.caspaonline.org. The College does not require a supplemental application. Deadline for submission for the Fall of 2008 semester is January 15. The PA program admits students for the fall semester only.

The Program has a rolling admissions process, i.e., admission decisions are made and decision letters are sent after each interview session instead of all decisions being made at the end of the season. Outstanding candidates are accepted within 30 days after the interview.

Admission to the PA program is highly competitive. Each year we receive far more applications than seats available. Simply meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee an interview or admission to the program.

Admission Requirements

Prerequisites:

Completion of 60 hours of college credit, which must include the courses in the following list. These courses need not be completed at the time of application but must be completed satisfactorily by the start of the first semester of the program. 

• 12 semester hours in biology, Microbiology with lab, Anatomy with lab, and Physiology with lab. Recommended: Immunology.
• 12 semester hours in chemistry, including General Chemistry I and II with labs, and Organic Chemistry or Biochemistry with lab.
• 9 semester hours in behavioral sciences, including Introductory or General Psychology and one upper-level Psychology or Sociology course, in Sociology, Psychology, or Anthropology.  Recommended: Abnormal Psychology.
• 6 semester hours in the humanities.  Suggested: English Grammar, Composition, writing courses.
• 3 semester hours in college algebra or statistics.  Suggested: Introduction to Statistics, Biostatistics.

All prerequisites must be taken within ten years of application to the program. Exceptions may be granted to those who have coursework older than ten years but who have been employed in direct, hands-on patient care.  Examples include paramedics, nurses, and clinical researchers.

GPA Requirement

All prerequisites must be completed with a grade of "C" or better.
The minimum GPA for admission is 2.6.  Exceptions may be made at the discretion of the admission committee. To be competitive, an applicant should have a minimum cumulative college GPA of 3.00.

Student Selection

The PA Admissions Committee determines admission to the PA Program. The Committee bases acceptance into the PA program on predictors of academic and nonacademic success that include grade point average,, related work and volunteer experience, previous college credit and degrees,  an application essay, references, and a personal interview for applicants the Admissions Committee considers competitive.  Successful applicants will possess strong interpersonal and communication skills and have the ability to work in a team environment.

Program Accreditation

The Physician Assistant Program is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA), the recognized accrediting agency that protects the interests of the public and PA profession by defining the standards for PA education and evaluating PA educational programs within the territorial United States to ensure their compliance with those standards.

Purposes

The purposes of the baccalaureate-degree Physician Assistant program are:

• To establish a learning environment that encourages intellectual, personal and professional growth.
• To provide an educational environment conducive to acquiring a foundation in current medical knowledge and clinical practice.
• To utilize teaching methodologies that promote lifelong learning.
• To emphasize the importance of quality and cost-effective patient-centered care.
• To prepare students to serve the primary care needs of diverse populations in rural, medically-underserved areas.
• To integrate health promotion, behavioral medicine and disease prevention into traditional medical care.

Educational Outcomes: Graduate Competencies

The Physician Assistant Program curriculum at JCHS reflects a philosophy of lifelong learning and patient-centered care. Coursework integrates medical treatment modalities with health promotion, behavioral medicine, and disease prevention to meet the needs of a changing healthcare environment. The Program curriculum is based on the mission statement, curricular outcomes, competencies, and technical standards for the physician assistant profession. The professional documents and requirements (AAPA, PAEA, NCCPA, ARC-PA’s “Competencies for the Physician Assistant” and the “Accreditation Standards for Physician Assistant Education”) provide the foundation for the curriculum.

Physician Assistant faculty and clinical preceptors serve as mentors for students, modeling professional ethics and attitudes conducive to healthcare professionals and demonstrating required medical knowledge and skills. The course of study emphasizes case-based learning and a systems approach, linking theory and practice.  Students learn to value and practice interdisciplinary teamwork and healthcare delivery to diverse populations.

Medical Knowledge

The Program provides instruction in the basic medical sciences, including anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, clinical pharmacology, and the genetic and molecular mechanisms of health and disease. It provides instruction in clinical medicine that covers the major organ systems. In addition, the Program provides supervised clinical practice in emergency medicine, family medicine, general internal medicine, general surgical care—including operative experiences, pediatrics, women’s health, psychiatry, behavioral medicine, and orthopedics. Upon completion of the Program, the graduating student will be able to:

·         Understand etiologies, risk factors, underlying pathologic processes, and epidemiology, including genetic factors, for medical conditions.

·         Identify signs and symptoms, and physical exam findings of medical conditions.

·         Select and interpret appropriate diagnostic and lab studies.

·         Manage general medical and surgical conditions, including understanding the indications, contraindications, side effects, interactions, and adverse reactions of pharmacologic agents and non pharmacologic treatment modalities.

·         Identify the appropriate site of care for presenting conditions, including identifying emergency cases and cases requiring referral or admission.

·         Identify appropriate interventions for prevention of medical conditions.

·         Identify appropriate methods to detect conditions in an asymptomatic individual.

·         Differentiate between the normal and the abnormal in anatomic, physiological, laboratory findings, and other diagnostic data.

·         Use history and physical findings and diagnostic studies to formulate a problem list, differential diagnosis, diagnosis and patient management plan.

·         Provide care to patients in all stages of life, including preventative, acute, chronic, rehabilitative, and end-of-life care.

·          Apply principles of patient self-management in those with chronic diseases, including developing patient-provider partnerships, setting collaborative action plans and goals, and making provisions for appropriate follow-up.

·         Apply an understanding of human behavior and psychological development to patients’ conditions and situations.

Communication Skills

The Program provides instruction in interpersonal and communication skills resulting in effective communication and collaboration between patient, families, and other healthcare professionals. Upon completion of the Program, the graduating student will be able to:

·         Create and sustain a therapeutic and ethically sound relationship with patients.

·         Present patient information in an articulate and concise manner in oral and written form

·         Use effective listening, nonverbal, explanatory, questioning, and writing skills to elicit and provide information.

·         Accurately and adequately document and record information regarding the care process for medical, legal, quality, and financial purposes.

·         Adapt communication style and messages suitable and appropriate for patients of varying backgrounds and cultures.

·         Obtain a pertinent history of the disease from the patient’s perspective.

·         Provide medical care to patients from diverse populations, including use of an interpreter and history taking through a third party.

·         Work effectively with physicians and other healthcare professionals as a member or leader of a healthcare team or other professional group.

Patient-Centered Care

The Program provides instruction in the care and management of patients across the lifespan, with a focus on cultural awareness and sensitivity. Upon completion of the Program, the graduating student will be able to:

·         Work effectively with physicians and other healthcare professionals to provide patient-centered care.

·         Demonstrate caring and respectful behaviors when interacting with patients and their families.

·         Make informed decisions about diagnostic and therapeutic interventions based on the patient’s information and preferences.

·         Develop and carry out patient management plans.

·         Counsel and educate patients and their families about:

o       Coping with illness and injury.

o       Adherence to prescribed treatment plans.

o       Modification of behaviors to more healthful patterns.

o       Management of chronic medical problems.

o       End-of life-issues.

o       Human sexuality.

·         Competently perform medical and surgical procedures considered germane to primary care.

·         Provide healthcare services and education aimed at preventing health problems and maintaining healthy, therapeutic lifestyle.

·         Recognize and treat substance abuse, violent behavior, and abuse in a patient and/or a patient’s family.

Professionalism

The Program provides instruction on professional issues and medical ethics. Upon completion of the Program, the graduating student will demonstrate the following:

·         Knowledge of the history of the physician assistant profession and the current trends in the profession.

·         An understanding of legal and regulatory requirements, as well as the role of the physician assistant.

·         A professional relationship with physician supervisors and other healthcare providers.

·         Awareness of limitations, openness to seek and accept constructive criticism and motivation to expand knowledge base.

·         Respect, compassion, and integrity, along with responsiveness to the needs of patients and society.

·         Accountability to patients, society, and the profession.

·         A commitment to ethical principles pertaining to provision or withholding of clinical care, confidentiality of patient information, and informed consent.

·         Sensitivity and responsiveness to the patient’s culture, age, gender, and disabilities.

·         An ability communicate information regarding patients, medical conditions research materials to colleagues and peers.

·         Knowledge of the legal issues of healthcare and their relation to physician assistant practice.

·         Knowledge of reimbursement issues, including documentation, coding and billing, and professional liability.

Practice-Based Learning and Improvement

The Program provides instruction to foster lifelong learning and critical thinking skills. It provides the skills necessary to search, interpret, and evaluate the medical literature in order to maintain a critical, current, and operational knowledge of new medical findings, including application to individualized patient care. Upon completion of the Program, graduating students will be able to:

·         Demonstrate awareness of with practice-based improvement methodologies.

·         Locate, appraise, and integrate evidence from scientific studies related to patients’ health problems.

·         Obtain and apply information about their own population of patients and the larger population from which patients are drawn.

·         Use information technology to manage information and to access online medical information.

Systems-Based Practice

The Program provides instruction on providing patient-centered care that uses the most up-to-date methods to deliver medical care in a cost-effective and timely manner. Upon completion of the Program, the graduating student will be able to: