The policies outlined in this handbook apply to all PA Program students, staff, principal faculty, and the program director. Students are expected to follow all policies of the university as delineated on the University of South Florida Student Catalog webpage and the guidelines set out in this handbook.
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Dress Code and Professional Demeanor
PA Program students, at all levels of education and training, are expected to maintain a proper professional image in their behavior and personal appearance at all times. During the pre-clinical years, students are expected to wear clean, appropriate apparel (shirts, pants, dresses, skirts, etc.) and shoes to all academic functions and on the premises of USF (all campuses).
All students must wear a short, waist length lab coat embroidered with an MCOM patch, their name, and the PA Program designation. ID badges during the clinical training years, and/or any time students have contact with patients, are to be worn prominently in the patient care areas. Shorts are not to be worn at any time when there may be interaction with patients. Men should wear shirt and tie, and women should wear appropriate dresses or slacks and blouses, as well as closed toe shoes at times when there may be interaction with patients.
Business professional attire is required to be worn at all times. The following items are considered inappropriate:
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Didactic Courses - Year 1
Unplanned or Emergency absences for Personal Illness, Family Illness, etc.
The student must contact the academic director and course instructor by e-mail or telephone (see specific course syllabus) and the PA Program office by e-mail or telephone (paprogram@health.usf.edu or 813-974-8926) to report his/her absenteeism on the first day of being absent. He/she should indicate if the reason is an emergency or unexpected illness. The student must also complete and submit the Student Absence Report Form. Specifics on planned and unplanned absences, as well as unexcused absences, are listed below. The completed Student Absence Report Form will be kept as part of the student’s record.
If the student has an unanticipated unplanned absence on the day of an exam, he/she must contact PA Program office by e-mail or telephone (paprogram@health.usf.edu or 813-974-8926) by 8:30 a.m. on the day of the exam. When the student returns to school he/she must fill out and sign the Student Absence Report Form. Documentation for the absence to be excused (e.g. physician’s note, accident report, etc.) will be at the discretion of the program director.
Students who miss an examination for any reason are required to contact the PA Program office (974-8926) prior to returning to class to determine the date and time of the make-up examination. Dates and times of make-up examinations are determined by the course directors in consultation with the academic director.
In general, make-up examinations must be taken within 48 hours upon return from an unplanned absence. A second unexcused absence for a make-up exam will require referral to the Academic Performance and Professionalism Committee (APPC).
Planned Absence
Absence for attendance at a professional meeting or other educational or research related activity should be submitted via the Student Absence Report Form for approval to the academic director at least 3 weeks prior to the event. Each request for absence will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Personal travel plans should not be considered valid excuses for missing an exam.
To receive an excused planned absence for an exam, the student must submit a completed Student Absence Report from Exam Form to the academic director. The academic director or designee will make the final determination to grant or deny the request and will inform the student of the decision.
Supervised Clinical Patient Experiences - Year 2
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In the event of an illness or emergency necessitating absence from the clinical rotation, students must notify both the PA Program clinical director and the clinical preceptor by 9:00 a.m. on the day of the absence. Students should also contact the PA Program office by e-mail or telephone (paprogram@health.usf.edu or 813-974-8926). Students should make every effort to reach the clinical preceptor and clinical director rather than utilizing voicemail or email.
Students are required to complete and submit the Student Absence Report Form with appropriate documentation supporting the reason for any unplanned absence(s). The completed Student Absence Report Form will be kept as part of the student’s record.
Failure to report an absence the student will be required to make up the time missed from the clerkship and a 5 point deduction on the clinical preceptor End-of-Rotation Clinical Performance Evaluation.
Students are required to submit a written request for approval of any anticipated absence, to the clinical director, prior to the absence. The clinical director will communicate with the student regarding details of the anticipated absence, preceptor notification and preceptor approval. Students should not seek approval from the preceptor without prior approval by the clinical director lest this be considered an unexcused absence.
- If a student misses up to five (5) days on any rotation, he/she must discuss with the preceptor ways to make-up the missed time. If there is no opportunity for the student to make up the missed days at that clinical site, the student must discuss make-up time at another clinical site with the clinical director. If there are no available clerkship site contiguous with the current cycle, the student will receive a grade of Incomplete until the hours have been made up.
In the event that a student misses more than five (5) days on any rotation for an excused absence, they will be required to repeat the rotation.
Students may be required by some clinical sites to engage in clinical or educational activities during the evenings and/or weekends.
If the preceptor or his/her designee is unavailable to work with the student for 2 or more scheduled clinical days (e.g. vacation, scheduled days off, etc.), the student is required to notify the clinical director so that an alternate assignment may be made.
Absence from a clinical site during a PA educational conference (e.g., AAPA, FAPA) for the purpose of conference attendance may be permitted with the permission of the clinical director. The student is still responsible for ensuring that any rotation benchmarks are not compromised by conference attendance.
Students are required to return to campus at the completion of each rotation for academic and professional activities that may include case presentations, End-of-Rotation Exams, OSCEs, and other designated program endeavors.
Tardiness
If a student arrives to the clinical site 30 minutes late or leaves the clinical site 30 minutes early, he/she is required to notify the clinical preceptor and the clinical director immediately.
If a student accumulates lateness hours totaling 5 hours this constitutes 1 unexcused absence. The procedure and policy for unexcused absences will then be applied.
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- The program director may place a student on a Leave of Absence for good reason at his/her discretion. If a student disagrees with such action, he/she may ask the APPC for a review which shall be conducted with a hearing as established in Appeal of Disciplinary Action or Dismissal section outlined below.
- The APPC may recommend that a student be placed on a Leave of Absence if the student is judged to be capable of completing the PA Program within the allotted time limits of the PA Program, but has current academic or non-academic problems that make ongoing enrollment detrimental to the student’s best interest. If the student disagrees with the recommendation, the procedure for an appeal will be followed as established in the Appeal of Disciplinary Action or Dismissal Dismissal section outlined below.
Petition for Readmission Following Leave of Absence
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Students withdrawing from the program must submit a withdrawal letter to both the PA Program and the MCOM Registrar’s Office, as well as complete any paperwork needed by either office, and settle any university obligations. USF may refund some portion of the tuition. For details, see the Refund of Fees policy on the PA Program website and the Tuition, Fees, and Medical Equipment Requirements section section in this handbook.
ACADEMIC GUIDELINES
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- We pledge our utmost effort to ensure that all components of the educational program for Physician Assistant students are of high quality. As mentors for our students, we maintain high professional standards in all of our interactions with patients, colleagues, and staff.
We respect all students as individuals, without regard to gender, race, national origin, religion, or sexual orientation. We will not tolerate anyone who manifests disrespect or who expresses biased attitudes towards any student.
We pledge that Physician Assistant students will have sufficient time to fulfill personal and family obligations, to enjoy recreational activities, and to obtain adequate rest. We monitor the time required to fulfill educational objectives, including time required for “call” on clinical rotations, to ensure students’ well-being.
In nurturing both the intellectual and the personal development of Physician Assistant students, we celebrate expressions of professional attitudes and behaviors, as well as achievement of academic excellence.
We do not tolerate any abuse or exploitation of students.
- We do not allow students to substitute or function as instructional faculty. Students with specific prior knowledge, experience and skills may assist faculty in didactic and laboratory session to share their knowledge and skills, however, students are not to be the primary instructor or instructor of record for any component of the curriculum.
We encourage any student who experiences mistreatment or who witnesses unprofessional behavior to report the facts immediately to appropriate faculty or staff. We treat all such reports as confidential and do not tolerate reprisals or retaliations of any kind.
Filing a Grievance
The University of South Florida System (USF System) is committed to mutual respect among all constituents of the University community. This commitment includes students, faculty, staff, and administration alike. In all concerns about fair treatment, we seek to work together to understand and address those concerns in an informal setting. As there are several offices designated to address grievances throughout the University, with specific processes applicable to the MCOM, students should first identify the topic or substance of a grievance and file the grievance with the appropriate office. The USF Student Grievance Policy can be found here.
Commitments of Students
- We pledge our utmost effort to acquire the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and behaviors required to fulfill all educational objectives established by the faculty.
- We cherish the professional virtues of honesty, compassion, integrity, fidelity, and dependability.
- We will honor the accomplishments and sacrifices of the faculty who help direct our learning, and respect the effort of the faculty as they help us become physicians and colleagues.
- We pledge to respect all faculty members and all students as individuals, without regard to gender, race, national origin, religion, or sexual orientation.
- As Physician Assistants in training, we embrace the highest standards of the medical profession and pledge to conduct ourselves accordingly in all of our interactions with patients, colleagues, and staff.
- In fulfilling our own obligations as professionals, we pledge to assist our fellow students in meeting their professional obligations, as well.
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All USF MCOM subsidiaries are committed to providing a work environment free from unlawful discrimination and prohibit "unwelcome" or "unwanted" conduct which constitutes harassment. This policy strictly prohibits unlawful discrimination and harassment in the workplace based on medical condition, race, religion, color, national origin, disability, marital status, family status, age, sex, sexual orientation or any other basis protected by federal, state or local law or ordinance or regulation. USF MCOM affirms that all employees have a right to work in an environment free from any type of discrimination and prohibits any conduct which constitutes sexual harassment under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
Unprofessional Behavior
Violations of the standards of conduct by faculty as enumerated in the Faculty Medical Learner Compact and in other University Policies shall be relayed to the Office of Faculty Affairs dean for action based on University Regulation USF10.112: Faculty Misconduct and Incompetence.
Reporting System
There are many ways students and others can report a concern about lapses in professionalism. Options for discussion of such concern include:
The University of South Florida System (USF System) is committed to mutual respect among all constituents of the University community. This commitment includes students, faculty, staff, and administration alike. In all concerns about fair treatment, we seek to work together to understand and address those concerns in an informal setting. As there are several offices designated to address Grievances throughout the University, with specific processes applicable to USF Health, students should first identify the topic or substance of a Grievance and file the Grievance with the appropriate office. The USF Student Grievance Policy can be found here.
PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
The faculty and director of each course/SCPE (for simplicity the term "course" will be inclusive of courses and SCPEs) define the criteria for acceptable academic performance in that course. Evaluation of academic performance may include (but is not necessarily limited to) measuring the student’s knowledge, measuring how the student applies such knowledge to specific problems, evaluating the judgment a student employs in solving problems and assessing the quality of the student’s psychomotor skills, professional conduct, ethical behavior and interpersonal relationships with medical colleagues, patients and patients’ families.
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All students are required to abide by the USF Academic Dishonesty and Disruption of Academic Process Guidelines that have been accepted by the university and are displayed in detail in the USF Student Handbook.
The University of South Florida expects students to be honest in all of their university coursework. Therefore, students are required to commit themselves to academic honesty by signing the following statement as part of the admissions process.
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All constituents of the program are expected to demonstrate professional behavior, defined by the program and college's mission, vision and values which are behaviors consistent with expectations of the public and the profession. For the Physician Assistant profession, these values and behaviors are delineated in the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants and the American Academy of Physician Assistants.
Requirement to Report Criminal Incident
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At times, ensuring patient confidentiality may conflict, or appear to conflict, with other important values, such as academic freedom and freedom of speech, giving rise to complex ethical issues. These ethical issues are difficult to navigate, particularly for students who may be new to clinical environments. In confronting these issues, students are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the many resources available to them at the MCOM. For example, students may consult with clinical mentors and attending physicians, PA preceptors and faculty, medical ethics faculty, and the Office of Student Affairs.
All students must follow Health Insurance and Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) rules when participating in clinical activities at affiliated hospitals and clinics; HIPAA compliance includes maintaining confidentiality of paper and electronic health records. When violations of HIPAA by a student are identified by a hospital, clinic, physician’s office, etc., the violation will be reviewed by the APPC, which will recommend remediation and and/or sanctions, including the possibility of required withdrawal or expulsion.
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Physician Assistant Clinical Knowledge Rating and Assessment Tool (PACKRAT) will be taken during each year of the two year program. Students may be required to pay for the cost of the test at some future date without formal announcement. However, at the present time, the School covers the expense of the examination. The School of has received authorization to make an individual copy of each student's performance on the PACKRAT examination as a measure their clinical knowledge base during his/her training. This information may be used to make decisions affecting promotion, clinical rotations, graduation or remediation. The School will maintain the scores in the same confidential manner as with other academic performance information.
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- Will be administered at 8:00 a.m. on End-of-Rotation Day 1 on campus
- Comprised of 120 PANCE style, multiple choice questions based on the learning objectives of the clerkship completed.
- Will follow the NCCPA PANCE topic and task blueprints
- A grade of “Fail” will be assigned to scores that fall below the minimum passing score as determined after statistical analysis of the exam scores. If a student receives a failing grade then the student needs to remediate and retake an examination
- Exam results will be available on the morning of End-of-Rotation Day 2
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Students are encouraged to discuss any and all issues of physical, emotional, psychological or sexual abuse without fear of retribution. The student may contact any faculty or staff member with whom he/she feels comfortable which may include the PA Program director, clinical director, academic director, or any principal faculty. In addition, the student may directly contact the USF Center for Victim Advocacy & Violence Prevention.
Sexual Harassment
In conformance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, the Florida Educational Equity Act, and the USF policy on the topic, it is the goal of the PA Program to create and maintain a work and study environment that is positive and free of discrimination. In order to help provide such an environment, faculty, staff, and students must be aware that sexual harassment is sex discrimination, and is unacceptable conduct that will not be tolerated at the university as defined in USF policy 0-008, Diversity and Equal Opportunity: Sexual Harassment. Sexual harassment is defined as conduct of a sexual nature or with sexual implications, which interferes with an employee’s or student’s status or performance by creating an intimidating, hostile, or offensive working or educational environment. This conduct may include, but is not limited to the following:
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In addition to being a violation of state and federal laws, behavior involving unwanted sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature is incompatible with faculty, staff, and student status in the University of South Florida - Master’s of Physician Assistant Studies Program.
Dating current teaching faculty (i.e. physicians, residents, teaching assistants, PA faculty, etc.) is highly discouraged. This can be viewed as a form of sexual harassment. See the USF policy regarding consensual relationships.
Further information regarding sexual harassment policies is outlined in the USF “Sexual Harassment” policy 0-008, Diversity and Equal Opportunity: Sexual Harassment
Students should contact the PA Program director immediately if they have felt as if they have been harassed.
The student is encouraged to directly contact the USF Center for Victim Advocacy & Violence Prevention with any concerns.
Sexual Battery
Sexual battery is a crime under the laws of the State of Florida and will not be tolerated at the USF MCOM as defined in USF Policy 0-014, Sexual Battery. As an integral part of academic performance, medical students are expected to maintain the high standards of professional and personal conduct traditionally associated with the practice of medicine. Any act such as sexual battery is a violation of University Policy, which in the case of PA students, is viewed as professional misconduct and is a violation of academic standards. As such, any professional misconduct is subject to disciplinary action by the APPC.
PA Program students who are victims of actual or threatened violence can obtain assistance from the /wiki/spaces/MCOM/pages/19396592255. Additionally, PA students should refer to the USF Policy concerning Sexual Battery.
Center for Victim Advocacy & Violence Prevention
The USF Center for Victim Advocacy & Violence Prevention is available to assist all USF students or employees who are victims of actual or threatened violence, including but not limited to battery, assault, sexual battery (date rape, acquaintance rape, stranger rape) and attempted sexual battery.
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Police Emergency: 911 or 813-974-2628
USF Center for Victim Advocacy & Violence Prevention
Office Location: SVC 0067
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Reporting of alleged faculty or preceptor abuse violations, as it relates to students, shall be made to the program director of the PA Program. An alternate site of reporting is through the academic or clinical director of the PA Program. Alleged abuse violations by faculty shall be relayed to the Office of Faculty Affairs for action based on University Policy.
GENERAL PROCEDURES
The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
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All students with documented disabilities will be afforded appropriate accommodations as determined by the USF Students with Disability Services. The approval must be coordinated by the academic and clinical affairs directors based upon recommendation from the Office of Students with Disability Services (SDS [Deborah McCarthy, Director, SVC 1133, 813-974-4309]).
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As in all institutions, student health is the ultimate responsibility of the individual student. All students are required to have health insurance throughout their enrollment in the PA Program. During the orientation process students are counseled about appropriate avenues for receiving medical care. Available options include continued care by the student’s personal physician, the University Student Health Center or the USF Physicians Group.
Prior to matriculation all students are required to provide the following to the Medical Health Administration Office for review:
Students must have health insurance in effect at all times during enrollment at PA Program. In addition to obtaining health insurance through the Affordable Care Act's Marketplace, basic health insurance policies are available on the USF Student USF Student Health Services websitewebsite for students who do not currently have health insurance. Certification of current health insurance is required for each year of enrollment.
- Students must undergo a physical examination conducted by the student’s personal physician. prior to starting school. Complete the Communicable Disease Prevention Certification & Physical Examination Verification Form and return it to the Medical Health Administration Office. Matriculating students will be informed of the deadline in which this form is due
- Students must provide documented evidence of immunity to specified communicable diseases listed on the Communicable Disease Prevention Certification & Physical Examination Verification Form. All documentation must be in English.
- Note: Student health records are confidential and are not accessible to or reviewed by any faculty, staff or student. Only immunization and tuberculosis screening results that are maintained in the Medical Health Administration office can be obtained upon receipt signed release from the student. PA Program principle faculty, the program director and the medical director must not participate a health care providers for students in the program, except in an emergency situation.
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Annual Requirements are provided through Medical Health Administration (MHA).
All students must complete the following requirements prior to matriculation (April 1st of each cohort):
- TUBERCULOSIS (TB) Screening: To meet the USF requirement, you must submit documentation of ONE of the following: 1. Results of NEGATIVE “Two-Step” TB Skin Testing (TST/PPD). This screening requires 2 separate TB skin tests administered at least one week apart but within 12 months of each other. The last TST must be within 6 months of your start date. 2. Lab Copy showing a “NEGATIVE” Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) blood test (QFT or T-Spot) within 6 months of start date (accepted in lieu of the “Two-Step” TST). 3. Individuals with a history of a POSITIVE TB skin test or IGRA blood test must submit both of the following: a. Verification of a NEGATIVE Chest X-ray within 12 months of start date to the USF MCOM and b. A current NEGATIVE Screening Questionnaire. A Questionnaire can be found and downloaded from the USF Medical Health Administration website at: http://hsc.usf.edu/medicine/internalmedicine/infectious/medicalhealthadmin/Forms.htm
- RUBELLA (German Measles): Serologic documentation of a positive Rubella immune titer OR immunization with at least one dose of live Rubella or MMR vaccine after 12 months of age.
- MEASLES (RUBEOLA): Serologic documentation of a positive Rubeola immune titer OR immunization with two doses of live Rubeola or MMR vaccine administered after 12 months of age and separated by 28 days or more
- MUMPS: Serologic documentation of a positive Mumps immune titer OR immunization with at least two doses of live Mumps or MMR vaccine after 12 month of age.
- VARICELLA (Chicken Pox): Serologic documentation of a positive Varicella titer OR two Varicella immunizations (given 4 to 8 weeks apart). This requirement is satisfied only by a positive titer or the vaccine series.
- HEPATITIS B “POSITIVE” QUANTITATIVE SURFACE ANTIBODY TITER (Blood Test): Serologic documentation of a Positive (QUANTITATIVE) Hepatitis B surface antibody titer that verifies IMMUNITY to the Hepatitis B Virus. The TITER is required in addition to completion of the vaccination series. The results should be reported as “POSITIVE” or as a number. “REACTIVE” results will NOT be accepted.
- Adacel™or BOOSTRIX® Vaccine Booster: Documentation of an Adult TETANUS/diphtheria/acellular pertussis (Tdap) vaccine booster is required. Tdap was licensed in June, 2005 for use as a single dose booster vaccination (ie. not for subsequent booster doses). The current CDC recommendation states “Healthcare personnel, regardless of age, should receive a single dose of Tdap as soon as feasible if they have not previously received Tdap and regardless of the time since last Td dose”.
- MENINGOCOCCAL Vaccination: Documentation of immunization with one dose of Meningococcal vaccine after 16th birthday OR a completed and signed USF Student Health Services Immunization Health History Form (Block 3, checkbox, signature) declining receipt of the Meningitis vaccine. The form is available at: http://www.usf.edu/student-affairs/student-health-services/documents/mandatory-imm-form-122014.pdf
** ANNUAL TB Screening will be required during your entire program. This Screening will be provided at no cost to you through the Medical Health Administration (MHA) office.
** INFLUENZA VACCINATION will be required each year. This vaccine will be provided for you at no cost beginning in October of each year through the USF Medical Clinic/Medical Health Administration (MHA) office.
Note: Several affiliated hospitals require drug and alcohol screening with and without advanced notice.
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Blood-borne Pathogen Exposures and Other Infectious Exposures to Communicable Diseases
Policies and procedures concerning blood-borne pathogen exposures and exposures to communicable diseases (e.g. tuberculosis, chicken pox) are in place at USF MCOM and at each of the major clinical teaching facilities. During orientation of the program, as well as before beginning in a clinical facility, an overview of procedures is presented. Try to familiarize yourself with the policies and procedures of each clinical facility and carefully comply with all requirements in case you are injured or exposed to communicable disease.
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