OBJECTIVES OF THE PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PROGRAM
Physician Assistant Practice, as a medical profession for the 21st century, must be responsive to social needs and demands, as well as keeping pace with changing technology. In response to this challenge the faculty of the USF MCOM MPAS program emphasizes ongoing review and adaptation of educational techniques to meet the health care needs of society for today and tomorrow.
The curriculum of the program is designed to instill a caring and competent attitude of a health care professional. Principles stressed to achieve this goal include development of a strong foundation in the basic sciences relevant to the practice of clinical medicine, early exposure to patients in a clinical setting, an emphasis on active student centered learning, and the use of technology in both classroom and clinical settings. Through these principles students learn to take on progressive responsibility for patient care commensurate with their level of training. Using a competency based curriculum, student progress is tracked and assessed to ensure that graduates are ready for clinical practice.
Student progress toward these competencies is carefully monitored to determine that the fundamental knowledge of the basic sciences in relation to career goals in medicine is achieved. The first year the program, emphasis is on the basic sciences. The second year of the program emphasizes clinical training with repeated reinforcement of theme throughout the educational process. Both physician assistants and physician mentors in both inpatient and outpatient settings provide valuable guidance. Through this training program, students will attain established competencies related to the knowledge, skills, attitudes and values of the physician assistant. Students must not substitute for or function as instructional faculty for the program. Students cannot substitute for clinical or administrative staff during supervised clinical practical experiences. Students may act as tutors for fellow students.
MISSION
To provide a scholarly environment in which students from diverse backgrounds receive the requisite knowledge and skills to equip them to deliver high-quality, culturally-sensitive, and compassionate healthcare, in collaboration with physicians in an interdisciplinary healthcare team.
VISION
To achieve national prominence for excellence in developing innovative educational strategies in order to produce high-achieving graduates, who serve their communities as professional medical and research clinicians
VALUES
High Standards - In upholding the highest standards, we will:
- Demonstrate ethical leadership by example
- Conduct ourselves with integrity, avoiding conflicts of interest
- Hold our work to the highest academic standards
Respect for Individuals - In valuing respect for individuals, we pledge to:
- Treat others with respect and dignity, honoring individual differences
- Promote open communication and listen proactively
- Create collegial environment based on loyalty to our co-workers
Advancing Knowledge - In expressing our passion for learning, we encourage:
- Exploration of new ideas in our teaching and research
- The courage to meet challenges and assume risk
- Diverse learning opportunities where creativity thrives
- Interdisciplinary teamwork
- Personal Development and Leadership - Recognizing that exceptional quality begins with people, we create:
- A culture of personal development and professional fulfillment
- A workplace where expectations are matched by our reward system
- An atmosphere where people value the balance between work and family
- A mentor-rich culture where faculty, staff and students can enhance their leadership skills
- Committment to Health - Supporting our fundamental belief in the PA/patient relationship, we are committed to
- The highest quality medical care to our patients
Training the next generation of Physician Assistants to be capable and compassionate
Promoting good health and well-being in response to the needs of our community
- Our community partners who help us achieve excellence in all that we do
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Provide advocacy and support to assist patients in obtaining quality care and in dealing with the complexities of health care delivery systems
Demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger system of health care to provide patient care that balances quality and cost, while maintaining the primacy of the individual patient
TECHNICAL STANDARDS FOR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PROGRAM ADMISSION, ACADEMIC PROGRESSION AND GRADUATION
The USF MCOM MPAS Program is committed to comply with Section 504 of the 1973 Vocational Rehabilitation Act and PL 101-336, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and also ascertains that certain minimum technical standards must be present in the prospective candidates.
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- Observation
- Candidates and students must be able to observe a patient accurately at a distance and close at hand.
- Observation necessitates the functional use of the sense of vision, hearing, smell, and somatic sensation.
- Communication
- Candidates and students must be able to speak, hear and observe patients in order to elicit information, describe changes in mood, activity and posture, and perceive nonverbal communications.
- Candidates and students must be able to communicate effectively and sensitively with patients.
- Candidates and students must be able to communicate (verbal, nonverbal, and written) effectively and efficiently in oral and written form with all members of the healthcare team.
- Candidates and students must possess reading skills at a level to be able to independently accomplish curricular requirements and provide clinical care for patients.
- Motor Coordination and Function
- Candidates and students should have sufficient motor function to elicit information from patients by palpation, auscultation, percussion, and other diagnostic maneuvers.
- Candidates and students should be able to do basic laboratory tests, carry out diagnostic procedures and read EKGs and X-rays.
- Candidates and students should be able to execute motor movements reasonably required to provide general care and emergency treatment to patients.
- Examples of emergency treatment reasonably required of Physician Assistants are cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the administration of intravenous medication, application of pressure to stop bleeding, the opening of obstructed airways, the suturing of simple wounds and the performance of simple obstetrical maneuvers.
- Such actions require coordination of both gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium and functional use of the senses of touch and vision.
- Intellectual, Conceptual, Integrative, and Quantitative Abilities
- Candidates and students must exhibit the following intellectual abilities:
- Measurement
- Calculation
- Reasoning
- Analysis
- Synthesis
- Comprehend three-dimensional and spatial relationships
- The above listed abilities are necessary skills in order to perform problem solving tasks quickly and efficiently.
- Behavioral and Social Attributes
- Candidates and students must possess the behavioral emotional health required for full use of their intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, the prompt completion of all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients, and the development of mature, sensitive and effective relationships with patients.
- Candidates and students must be able to tolerate physically taxing workloads and to function effectively when under stress.
- Candidates and students must be able to adapt to changing environments, to display flexibility and to learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in the clinical problems of many patients.
- Candidates and students must demonstrate empathy, integrity, concern for others, interpersonal skills, interest, motivation, and the ability to interact with people at all levels in a culturally diverse society.
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