Postbaccalaureate MPAS (24-month)
Physician Assistant Studies
Manchester and Worcester
Technical Standards
A candidate for the MCPHS-Manchester Physician Assistant Studies program must have, at a minimum, skills in five categories: observation, communication, motor, intellectual and behavior/social. Reasonable accommodation for persons with documented disabilities will be considered on an individual basis, but a candidate must be able to perform in an independent manner. The following skills are required with or without accommodation:
Observation
Candidates must have sufficient capacity to observe in the lecture hall,
the laboratory, the outpatient setting, and the patient’s bedside. Sensory
skills to perform a physical examination are required. Functional vision,
hearing and tactile sensation are required to properly observe a patient’s
condition and to perform procedures regularly required during a physical
examination such as inspection, auscultation and palpation.
Communication
Candidates must be able to communicate effectively in both academic
and health care settings. Candidates must show evidence of effective
written and verbal communication skills. Candidates must be able to
communicate with patients in order to elicit information, describe changes
in mood, activity and posture, and perceive nonverbal communications.
Candidates must be capable of completing, in a thorough and timely manner,
appropriate medical records and documents and plans according to protocol.
Motor
The ability to participate in basic diagnostic and therapeutic maneuvers
and procedures (e.g., palpation, auscultation) is required. Candidates
must have sufficient motor function to execute movements reasonably
required to properly care for all patients. Candidates must be able
to move freely about patient care environments and must be able to move
between settings such as clinics, classroom buildings and hospitals.
In addition, physical stamina sufficient to complete the rigorous course of didactic and clinical study is required.
Long periods of sitting, standing or moving are required in classroom, laboratory and clinical experiences.
Intellectual
Candidates must be able to measure, calculate, reason, analyze and synthesize.
Problem solving, one of the critical skills demanded of physician assistants,
requires all of these intellectual abilities. Candidates must be able
to read and understand medical literature. In order to complete the
Physician Assistant Studies program, candidates must be able to demonstrate
mastery of these skills and the ability to use them together in a timely
fashion in medical problem-solving and patient care.
Behavioral and Social Attributes
Candidates must possess the emotional health and stability required
for full utilization of their intellectual abilities, the exercise of
good judgment, and the prompt completion of all academic and patient
care responsibilities. The development of mature, sensitive and effective
relationships with patients and other members of the health care team
is essential. The ability to function in the face of uncertainties inherent
in clinical practice, flexibility, compassion, integrity, motivation,
interpersonal skills, and concern for others are all required. Candidates
must be able to function effectively under stress and have the ability
to accept constructive criticism and handle difficult interpersonal
relationships during training.
Program Competencies
These are the expected outcomes as a physician assistant (PA) graduates from Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (MCPHS)–Manchester. These outcomes or program graduation competencies were endorsed by the NCCPA, AAPA, and PAEA to guide PA programs to modify and improve PA curriculum. All didactic and clinical experiences cumulatively contribute to these outcomes.
Mastery of these areas will be gradual and will not occur with any single exam, course or rotation. It is a process that takes time, study and effort. There are several instruments used to measure acquisition and achievement of these competencies including preceptor evaluations, graduate exit surveys, employer surveys and post graduate surveys two years after completion of the program. MCPHS–Manchester uses these competencies as an important component of the summative evaluation process. These competencies were adopted by the faculty and staff members of the MCPHS PA program to serve as a roadmap to enter practice as a competent physician assistant.
Medical Knowledge
Medical knowledge includes an understanding of pathophysiology, patient
presentation, differential diagnosis, patient management, surgical principles,
health promotion and disease prevention. Physician assistants must demonstrate
core knowledge about established and evolving biomedical and clinical
sciences and the application of this knowledge to patient care in their
area of practice. In addition, physician assistants are expected to
demonstrate an investigatory and analytic thinking approach to clinical
situations. Physician assistants are expected to:
- Understand etiologies, risk factors, underlying pathologic process and epidemiology for medical conditions
- Identify signs and symptoms of medical conditions
- Select and interpret appropriate diagnostic or lab studies
- Manage general medical and surgical conditions to include understanding the indications, contraindications, side effects, interactions, and adverse reactions of pharmacologic agents and other relevant treatment modalities
- Identify the appropriate site of care for presenting conditions, including identifying emergent cases and those requiring referral or admission
- Identify appropriate interventions for prevention of conditions
- Identify the appropriate methods to detect conditions in an asymptomatic individual
- Differentiate between the normal and the abnormal in anatomic, physiological, laboratory findings, and other diagnostic data
- Appropriately use history and physical findings and diagnostic studies to formulate a differential diagnosis
- Provide appropriate care to patients with chronic conditions
Interpersonal and Communication Skills
Interpersonal and communication skills encompass verbal, nonverbal and
written exchange of information. Physician assistants must demonstrate
interpersonal and communication skills that result in effective information
exchange with patients, their patients’ families, physicians, professional
associates and the healthcare system. Physician assistants are expected
to:
- Use effective listening, nonverbal, explanatory, questioning and writing skills to elicit and provide information
- Appropriately adapt communication style and messages to the context of the individual patient interaction
- Work effectively with physicians and other health care professionals as a member or leader of a health care team or other professional group
- Apply an understanding of human behavior
- demonstrate emotional resilience and stability, adaptability, flexibility, and tolerance of ambiguity and anxiety,
- Accurately and adequately document and record information regarding the care process for medical, legal, quality and financial purposes
Patient Care
Patient care includes age-appropriate assessment, evaluation, and management.
Physician assistants must demonstrate care that is effective, patient-centered,
timely, efficient, and equitable for the treatment of health problems
and the promotion of wellness. Physician assistants are expected to:
- Work effectively with physicians and other health care professionals to provide patient-centered care
- Demonstrate caring and respectful behaviors when interacting with patients and their families,
- Gather essential and accurate information about their patients
- Make informed decisions about diagnostic and therapeutic interventions based on patient information and preferences, up-to-date scientific evidence and clinical judgment
- Develop and carry out patient management plans
- Counsel and educate patients and their families
- Competently perform medical and surgical procedures considered essential in the area of practice
- Provide health care services and education aimed at preventing health problems or maintaining health
Professionalism
Professionalism is the expression of positive values and ideals as care
is delivered. Foremost, it involves prioritizing the interests of those
being served above one’s own. Physician assistants must know their professional
and personal limitations. Professionalism also requires that PAs practice
without impairment from substance abuse, cognitive deficiency or mental
illness. Physician assistants must demonstrate a high level of responsibility,
ethical practice, sensitivity to a diverse patient population and adherence
to legal and regulatory requirements. Physician assistants are expected
to demonstrate:
- Understanding of legal and regulatory requirements, as well as the appropriate role of the physician assistant
- Professional relationships with physician supervisors and other health care providers
- Respect, compassion and integrity
- Commitment to ethical principles pertaining to provision or withholding of clinical care, confidentiality of patient information, informed consent and business practices
- Sensitivity and responsiveness to patients’ culture, age, gender and disabilities
- Self-reflection, critical curiosity and initiative
Practice-Based Learning and Improvement
Practice-based learning and improvement includes the processes through
which clinicians engage in critical analysis of their own practice experience,
medical literature and other information resources for the purpose of
self-improvement. Physician assistants must be able to assess, evaluate
and improve their patient care practices. Physician assistants are expected
to:
- Locate, appraise and integrate evidence from scientific studies related to their patients’ health problems
- Apply knowledge of study designs and statistical methods to the appraisal of clinical studies and other information on diagnostic and therapeutic effectiveness
- Apply information technology to manage information, access online medical information, and support their own education
Systems-Based Practice
Systems-based practice encompasses the societal, organizational, and
economic environments in which healthcare is delivered. Physician assistants
must demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger system
of health care to provide patient care that is of optimal value. PAs
should work to improve the larger health care system of which their
practices are a part. Physician assistants are expected to:
- Use information technology to support patient care decisions and patient education
- Effectively interact with different types of medical practice and delivery systems
- Understand the funding sources and payment systems that provide coverage for patient care
- Advocate for quality patient care and assist patients in dealing with system complexities
- Apply medical information and clinical data systems to provide more effective, efficient patient care