Program Completion
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The USA Physician Assistant (PA) Studies Program consists of preclinical and clinical components. The preclinical component is designed to provide a solid foundation for the clinical component. During the clinical component the student refines the medical knowledge and clinical skills needed for 911±¬ÁÏÍø practice as a Physician Assistant.
Graduation Requirements
- The student (candidate) has completed all required courses of the 911±¬ÁÏÍø curriculum with a minimum GPA of 3.0 and successfully completed the summative evaluation.
- The student (candidate) has demonstrated 911±¬ÁÏÍøism expected of a student in the PA profession which is acceptable to the faculty according to the Program’s 911±¬ÁÏÍø policy.
Program
The program consists of preclinical and clinical components. The preclinical component is designed to provide a solid foundation for the clinical component. During the clinical component the student refines the medical knowledge and clinical skills needed for 911±¬ÁÏÍø practice.
The PA students will be able to:
- Complete 121 hours of graduate course work consisting of 73 credit hours of didactic course work and 48 credit hours of clinical course work.
- Obtain an accurate and detailed patient history.
- Perform complete and focused physical examinations
- Establish working and differential diagnosis, order and interpret diagnostic evaluations to include: laboratory tests (blood, urine, spinal fluids, cultures); imaging studies (plain film radiography, radiographic contrast studies, ultrasound studies, computerized tomography studies, MRI studies & electrocardiogram.
- Develop and manage a treatment plan. Record patient data: (a) Written notes and charting, and (b) Electronic medical record.
- Order and/or administer therapeutic medications (a) in hospitals and clinics and (b) via written or electronic prescription.
- Perform therapeutic medical interventions and procedures.
- Council and educate patients regarding medical, therapeutic, and behavioral problems.
- Interact with patients and the medical community in a 911±¬ÁÏÍø manner.
- Make appropriate referrals.