1. Course prefix and number: 2. Date:

3. Requested action:

New Course
X / Revision of Active Course
Revision & Unbanking of a Banked Course
Renumbering of an Existing Course from
from / # / to / #
X / Required / Elective

4. Method(s) of delivery (check all boxes that apply for both current/proposed and expected

future delivery methods within the next three years):

Current or Expected

Proposed Delivery Future Delivery

Method(s): Method(s):

X / On-campus (face to face) / X
Distance Course (face to face off campus)
Online (delivery of 50% or more of the instruction is offered online)

5. Justification (must cite accreditation and/or assessment by the graduate faculty) for new course or course revision or course renumbering:

An ongoing assessment by the graduate faculty in the Department of Physician Assistant Studies determined the need to change the credit hours of this course and extend the length of the practicum. Family Medicine Clinical Practicum will change from six weeks to eight weeks and from five semester credit hours to six semester credit hours to increase the student’s experience in Family Medicine and Primary Care. The mission of our program is to train Primary Care Physician Assistants to serve the citizens of rural and medically underserved Eastern North Carolina. Expanding this course helps our program achieve that mission. This course also fulfills the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) following standard:
B3.07 Supervised clinical practice experiences should occur with preceptors practicing in the following disciplines:
a) family medicine,
b) internal medicine,
c) general surgery,
d) pediatrics,
e) ob/gyn and
f) behavioral and mental health care.

6. Course description exactly as it should appear in the next catalog:

6330. Family Medicine Clinical Practicum. (6) P: Consent of instructor. Clinical experience with emphasis on the family medicine approach to initial care, comprehensive care and preventive care. The student will have the opportunity to participate in the promotion and application of preventive medicine and wellness maintenance techniques as an important aspect of family practice.

7. If this is a course revision, briefly describe the requested change:

An ongoing assessment by the graduate faculty in the Department of Physician Assistant Studies determined the need to change the credit hours of this course and extend the length of the practicum. Family Medicine Clinical Practicum will change from six weeks to eight weeks and from five semester credit hours to six semester credit hours to increase the student’s experience in Family Medicine and Primary Care. The mission of our program is to train Primary Care Physician Assistants to serve the citizens of rural and medically underserved Eastern North Carolina. Expanding this course helps our program achieve that mission.

8. Course credit:

Lecture Hours / Weekly / OR / Per Term / Credit Hours / s.h.
Lab / Weekly / OR / Per Term / Credit Hours / s.h.
Studio / Weekly / OR / Per Term / Credit Hours / s.h.
Practicum / 40 / Weekly / OR / Per Term / Credit Hours / 6 / s.h.
Internship / Weekly / OR / Per Term / Credit Hours / s.h.
Other (e.g., independent study) Please explain. / s.h.
Total Credit Hours / 6 / s.h.
35

9. Anticipated annual student enrollment:

10. Changes in degree hours of your programs:

Degree(s)/Program(s) / Changes in Degree Hours
MS in Physician Assistant Studies / No

11. Affected degrees or academic programs, other than your programs:

Degree(s)/Program(s) / Changes in Degree Hours
None / None

12. Overlapping or duplication with affected units or programs:

X / Not applicable
Documentation of notification to the affected academic degree programs is attached.

13. Council for Teacher Education (CTE) approval (for courses affecting teacher education):

X / Not applicable
Applicable and CTE has given their approval.

14. University Service-Learning Committee (USLC) approval:

X / Not applicable
Applicable and USLC has given their approval.

15. Statements of support:

a. Staff

X / Current staff is adequate
Additional staff is needed (describe needs in the box below):

b. Facilities

X / Current facilities are adequate
Additional facilities are needed (describe needs in the box below):

c. Library

X / Initial library resources are adequate
Initial resources are needed (in the box below, give a brief explanation and an estimate for the cost of acquisition of required initial resources):

d. Unit computer resources

X / Unit computer resources are adequate
Additional unit computer resources are needed (in the box below, give a brief explanation and an estimate for the cost of acquisition):

e. ITCS resources

X / ITCS resources are not needed
The following ITCS resources are needed (put a check beside each need):
Mainframe computer system
Statistical services
Network connections
Computer lab for students
Software
Approval from the Director of ITCS attached

16. Course information (see: Graduate Curriculum and Program Development Manual for instructions):

a. Textbook(s) and/or readings: author(s), name, publication date, publisher, and city/state/country. Include ISBN (when applicable).

McPhee S., and Papadakis M. (2009) Current Medical Diagnosis & Treatment 2010, 49th edition. McGraw Hill Lange Publishing. ISBN 978-0-07-162444-2

b. Course objectives for the course (student – centered, behavioral focus)

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1.  Evaluate the presentations of the most common clinical entities in the primary care setting.
2.  Demonstrate diagnostic and management skills for patients presenting with clinical family medicine entities in the ambulatory and inpatient settings.
3.  Formulate treatment plans appropriate for use in the primary care setting and the indices for referral to specialty care.
4.  Perform complete histories and physical examinations and assemble the findings in the correct documentation required in the SOAP format.
5.  Select and interpret laboratory and diagnostic tests pertinent to family medicine entities, and demonstrate knowledge of the laboratory tests required to monitor patients on certain medications.
6.  Develop and utilize materials to educate the family medicine patient about their particular pathology and therapeutic regimen.
7.  Utilize library and interactive computer tools for research, study, literature review, and consultation.
8.  Assemble and evaluate the community resources and ancillary services available to family medicine patients in the rural and urban setting.
9.  Exhibit and incorporate into practice the concept of the dependent nature of the PA profession and the concept of the collaborative relationship of the PA/Physician Team.

c. Course topic outline

Students will complete patient evaluations and treatment plans under preceptor supervision for patients with the following conditions:
1.  HEENT Disease
2.  Cardiovascular Disease
3.  Pulmonary Disease
4.  Gastrointestinal Disease
5.  Genito-urinary Disease
6.  Orthopedic Injury and Disease
7.  Endocrine Disease
8.  Gynecological and Obstetric Disease
9.  Neurologic Disease
10.  Dermatologic Disorders
11.  Psychiatric Disorders

d. List of course assignments, weighting of each assignment, and grading/evaluation system for determining a grade

Preceptor Evaluation 40%
End of Rotation Exam 60%
Total 100%
Grading Scale
90-100% = A
80-89% = B
70-79% = C
Less than 70% = F

2

Revised 04-06-11 and posted fall of 2011