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OBJECTIVES OF THE PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PROGRAM
The 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 the PA 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. Physician assistant 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.
Note: 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.
To achieve these objectives, the Master’s of Physician Assistant Studies Program PA program strives to train physician assistants who:
- Have the clinical knowledge and skills necessary to evaluate, diagnose, and manage common acute and chronic primary health care problems in the emergency, ambulatory care, and hospital setting.
- Have the ability to screen for disease and counsel patients on issues of health promotion and disease prevention.
- Have the ability to provide psychological support to patients during episodes of illness or emotional crisis.
- Utilize community health care resources in a cost effective manner.
Communicate and work effectively with other members of the health care team and the patient’s family.
Upon successful completion of the two-year curriculum, the student is awarded the Master's of Physician Assistant Studies degree as well as a Certificate of Completion. The graduate is then eligible to sit for the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).
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We endorse the NCCPA blueprint. This material can be found at: http://www.nccpa.net/ExamsContentBlueprint
Professional Behavioral Objectives
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- Articulate the importance and privileged nature of the patient/provider relationship.
- Discuss the importance of intellectual honesty and truthfulness in carrying out his/her role as a physician assistant.
- Discuss the physician-dependent nature of the physician assistant’s role.
- Describe the importance of data contained within established medical care records and the value of these records as the best evidence to assure quality of care and facilitate risk management.
- Explain the importance and practical application of studies in basic sciences to the understanding of specific aspects of and skills used during the physical examination and in the practice of medicine.
- Describe the importance of the financial costs and potential hazards which might result from indiscriminate or inappropriate ordering of laboratory tests and procedures as important in patient care and the interaction with the patient.
- Discuss the increased effectiveness of using a multidimensional / interdisciplinary plan in the care of patients.
- Discuss the importance of diet and nutrition in the overall health of the patient and in disease prevention and overall care of the
- Explain how lifestyles influence a person’s health and identify his/her belief about the responsibility or obligation of a patient to change these behaviors.
- Discuss how the biopsychosocial impacts of diseases are important to the overall care of the patient.
Code of Conduct
We endorse the NCCPA Code of Conduct for Certified and Certifying Physician Assistants. This can be found at http://www.nccpa.net/Code-of-conduct
Competencies for the Physician Assistant Profession
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
- Commitment 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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Learning Outcomes and Expectations
The USF MCOM MPAS The PA Program defined learning outcomes and expectations are based on the Competencies for the Physician Assistant Profession as developed jointly by the National Commission on Accreditation of Physician Assistants (NCCPA), the Accreditation Review Commission for Education of the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA), the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA), and the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA).
Student success in achieving the program defined learning outcomes and expectations will be monitored throughout the didactic and clinical phases of the program. The Program program faculty and clinical preceptors will evaluate students through a variety of assessment tools, including but not limited to: multiple choice examinations, collaborative group projects, objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs), reflection papers, and clinical performance evaluations.
Our graduates will demonstrate entry-level proficiency as Physician Assistants in the following Program program defined learning outcomes:
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TECHNICAL STANDARDS FOR PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PROGRAM ADMISSION, ACADEMIC PROGRESSION AND GRADUATION
The USF MCOM MPAS Program PA 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.
The MPAS Program The PA program has determined technical standards that are essential for successful progression and completion of all aspects of the curriculum, as well as entry into the profession. These Technical Standards are required for admission and must be maintained throughout the student’s enrollment in the MPAS Programprogram. In the event a student is unable to fulfill these Technical Standards, with or without reasonable accommodation, the student will be subject to dismissal.
Candidates for and students of the USF MCOM MPAS Program the program must have somatic sensation and the functional use of the senses of vision and hearing. Candidates’ and students’ diagnostic skills will also be lessened without the functional use of the senses of equilibrium, smell, and taste. Additionally, they must have sufficient exteroceptive sense (touch, pain and temperature), sufficient proprioceptive sense (position, pressure, movement, stereognosis, and vibratory) and sufficient motor function to permit them to carry out the activities described in the section above. They must be able to consistently, quickly, and accurately integrate all information received by whatever sense(s) employed, and they must have the intellectual ability to learn, integrate, analyze, and synthesize data.
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