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Physician Assistant Program Technical Standards

Technical Standards Preface:

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is the primary non-discrimination law applicable to the admissions and post-secondary education of disabled persons. Section 504 of this statute prohibits discrimination solely on the basis of the disability of an “otherwise qualified” person seeking admission to any college, university, or other institution of higher education.

The purpose of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), enacted in 1990, as far as schools are concerned, is the assure a level playing field so that individuals with disabilities can compete with other applicants on the basis of their ability without being eliminated solely because of a disability. Disability is defined in the ADA as a physical or mental impairment. The ADA requires that:

  • Schools judge a person on the basis of their ability to complete the educational program rather than on their status as disabled persons.
  • Person seeking admission must be able to perform the “essential functions” of the program in spite of the disability.
  • “Reasonable accommodation” may be needed, and if so, must be provided.
  • “The essential functions” of the educational program are matters for each school to determine.
  • Pre-admission inquiry as to whether a person is disabled is not permitted, but a school may seek as much information as is needed to make a determination that an individual can perform the “essential functions” of the educational program.

The accreditation standards of the Liaison Committee on Medical Education state: “While physical disability should not preclude a student from consideration for admission, each school should develop and publish technical standards for the admission of handicapped applicants, in accordance with legal requirements.”

In order to comply with the LCME accreditation standards, a committee prepared the attached documents for review and approval by the faculty of Methodist College: Technical Standards for Admission to the Methodist College Physician Assistant Program.

Technical Standards for The Methodist College Physician Assistant Program

Any applicant who plans to enter the physician assistant program at Methodist College must posses certain skills that will enable them to master the educational and clinical content of the program within a reasonable time frame. These skills are required by a practicing clinician to improve patient health, prevent morbidity and mortality and improve and expand treatment goals that encourage the greatest patient motivation and cooperation within their resources. These skills also provide for periodic revision and appropriate discontinuation of treatment plans once goals have been achieved.

Methodist College welcomes specific inquires from potential students with disabilities regarding required technical skills and how completion of those skills might apply to their unique situation. A determination will be; made by the physician assistant staff as to whether the individual is qualified for admission to the program and if reasonable accommodations can be made. Federal law prohibits programs from making inquires about specific disabilities prior to admission, however, applicants who are selected for admission must be prepared to meet the educational and technical performance standards in order to complete the program. Students who are unable to accomplish these skills will not be allowed to continue in the program.

Fundamental Skills for the Physician Assistant Profession & Curriculum:

  • Communication and problem solving skills through verbal, visual and written information.
  • Clinical reasoning and decision making within a limited time frame.
  • Knowledge, insight and judgement for safety and prognostication.
  • Written and verbal communications.
  • Time management and study.
  • Deductive and inductive reasoning.
  • Visual-spatial integration.

The fundamental skills noted above require applicants to have abilities to meet the technical standards established for the program.

Participation in all phases of the educational program within the required time frame. Participation includes the various laboratories, lectures, teaching conference, clinics, rounds, understanding of classroom lectures, presentations, seminars etc. Evaluations will be through work standards performances and or examinations. Objectives include:

  1. Learning specific skills necessary to complete the program thereby becoming eligible to sit for the national certifying examination.
  2. Applying basic principles of the scientific method in reading and interpreting professional literature.
  3. Participating in critical analysis of new concepts and findings provided by others.
  4. Applying basic educational concepts of theories in designing, implementing and evaluating treatment regimens.
  5. Educating patients, families and health care personnel involved in the patient’s care.

Students/PA’s should be able to function appropriately in interpersonal relationships by exhibiting use of good judgement, empathy, reliability and emotional stability. They must develop the ability to practice appropriately in stressful situations and work with others to interact with patients and families in a manner which provides the desired psychosocial support by:

  1. Recognizing his/her own reaction to illness and disability.
  2. Recognizing patients’ and families’ reactions to illness and disability.
  3. Respecting individual, cultural, religious, and socioeconomic differences.
  4. Utilizing appropriate communicative processes.
  5. Demonstrating safe, ethical and legal practice as stated by the profession and laws.
  6. Engaging the greatest possible degree of patient motivation and cooperation making them a partner in their health care.
  7. Functioning effectively with other health care professionals in the care of patients through medical team care.
  8. Being open and responsive to ideas, techniques and procedures, which would be of greater benefit to the patient.

Communicate effectively with patients, families and other health care members in order to:

  1. Instruct, confer and integrate appropriate patient medical treatment with the other aspects of patient care.
  2. Stimulate motivation and cooperation in the patient, family and other health care members.
  3. Provide instruction on diet, exercise, therapy, and patient education.
  4. Explain treatment plan methods, objectives and goals to the patient and family.

Function in a professional, ethical and systematic manner by:

  1. Obtaining a thorough medical history.
  2. Performing a complete physical examination.
  3. Reviewing previous medical records.
  4. Considering differential diagnoses.
  5. Considering appropriate diagnostic studies and or referral.
  6. Planning, preparing, implementing and modifying as needed an appropriate treatment program which will:
    1. Include realistic goals in terms of diagnosis, prognosis, physical/psychological status and life style and quality of life of the patient.
    2. Provide treatment methods that provide high probability achievement.
    3. Be within resource constraints.
    4. Provide for periodic revision according to patient changes.
    5. Specificity and comprehensiveness in execution of the plan.
    6. Detailed documentation.
  7. Providing health care services with the direction and responsible supervision of a physician.
  8. Being aware of the diversity of your patients.
  9. Providing for life support and acute injury evaluation/care until a physician and/or appropriate health care professionals can be obtained.

Critical Thinking – all students must possess the intellectual, ethical, physical and emotional capabilities required to undertake the full curriculum and to achieve the level of competence required by the faculty. The ability to solve problems requires measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis and synthesis.

Communication skills – all students must be able to speak, hear and observe patients to elicit information, describe changes in mood, activity and posture and perceive non-verbal communication. The student must be able to effectively communicate in written and oral form.

Visual ability – all students must be able to accurately observe patients close up and at a distance. This requires the use of somatic sensation and vision.

Hearing and tactile abilities – must have sufficient motor function to elicit information from patients by palpation, auscultation, percussion and other diagnostic techniques.

Mobility and fine motor skills – students must execute movements reasonably required to move from area to area, maneuver in small places, calibrate and use small and large equipment, position and move patients and provide patients with general care and emergency treatment.

Interpersonal abilities – students must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of intellectual capabilities, exercise of good judgment, prompt completion of all responsibilities required for diagnosis and care of patients and the development of mature, sensitive and effective relationships with patients, families and colleagues.

Methodist College Physician Assistant Program considers for admission those students who possess the academic and professional promise necessary to become outstanding health-care professionals. Methodist College and the PA Program do not discriminate on the basis of sex, age, race, color, national and ethnic origin, or disability.

Physician Assistant Program

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