Physician Assistant Program
Didactic Year Student Handbook
Mission Statement
Bethel University’s mission is to create opportunities for members of the learning community to develop to their highest potential as whole persons-intellectually, spiritually, socially, and physically, in a Christian environment. It is Bethel University’s Physician Assistant Program’s specific mission to create opportunities for the members of the learning community interested in health care to ultimately graduate as competent, caring healthcare professionals who practice medicine within an ethical framework grounded in Christian principles.
Chapter One: General Information Pages 3 - 7
Introduction Page 3
Accreditation Page 3 Definition of a PA Page 3
History of PA Page 4 Program Overview Page 5
Office Hours Page 5 Faculty and Staff Contact Information Page 6
Organizational Chart Page 7
Chapter Two: Safety and Security Pages 8-10
Safety Issues Page 8
Occupational Health and Safety Page 8
Blood Born Pathogen/Needlestick Injury/Accident Page 8
Personal Safety Page 9
Preventative Measures Page 9
Sexual Harassment Page 9-10 Classroom/Building Access Page 10
Chapter Three: Academic Policies and Procedures Pages 11-24
Advanced Placement/Academic Credit Page 11
Academic Standards Page 11
Remediation Page 11
Technical Standards Page 11-13
American Disabilities Act Statement Page 13
PA Professional Competencies Page 13-16
Attendance Policy Page 16
Grade Appeal/Academic Grievance Page 16
Test Question Review Page 16
Tuition, Fees, Expenses Page 17
Student Withdrawal/ Refunds Page 17-18
Progression/Graduation Requirements Page 18
Academic Computing Helpdesk Page 18
Electronic Communication/Media Policy Page 19
Course Preparedness Page 19
Course Schedules Page 19
Classroom Conduct Page 19
Academic Integrity Page 20
Plagiarism Page 20
Academic Resources Page 21
Faculty and Advisors Page 22
Delayed Progression Policy Page 22
General Exam Policies Page 23
Academic Course Offering Page 24
Chapter Four: Student Policies and Procedures Pages 25-30
Non Academic Grievance Page 25
Non Academic Probation Page 25
Personal Property Page 25
Health Care Page 25
Substance Abuse Page 26
Lines of Communication Page 26
Work Policy Page 27
Student Records Page 27
Dress Code Page 27-28
Kitchen Policy Page 28
Parking Policy Page 28
Smoking Policy Page 28
Weather Conditions Policy Page 28
Fire, Bomb, Etc, Policies & Procedures Page 28
Eating/Drinking in Classroom Page 28
Restroom Policy Page 28
Drug Screen/Background Check/Tb Skin Test/Immunizations Page 28
Printing/Copying Page 29
Code of Ethics Page 29-30
Chapter Five: Scholarship Opportunities Pages 31-32
Chapter One: General Information
Introduction
· Students enrolled in the physician assistant program at Bethel University are governed by the policies and procedures dictated by the University. However, PA students may face unique situations that are not addressed in the University catalog. Therefore, the Didactic Year Physician Assistant Program Handbook was created.
· This is a comprehensive manual; however, it may not address every possible situation. When confronted with something not covered, seek guidance from your mentor/advisor. This first year manual supersedes any other campus publication.
· Publications that students are reminded to review for policies that may impact you during your enrollment are: The Bethel University Physician Assistant Program (BUPAP) Didactic and Clinical year student handbooks, individual course syllabi, the Bethel University Catalog, and on-line at www.bethelpa.com. You will be issued a username and password to access this site.
· BUPAP students are issued the Didactic year student handbook during orientation week. Students will be issued the BUPAP Clinical year student handbook during the Clinical Orientation Week.
· Bethel University ensures that all policies and procedures contained within the BUPAP handbooks have been reviewed by institutional administrators, the University legal counsel, and the Bethel University Board of Trustees to assure that its content is consistent with federal and state statutes, rules and regulations prior to publication. Handbooks are reviewed annually for relevancy and application during the annual Faculty retreat.
· If you have questions or concerns regarding the application or meaning of any topics covered in this manual, contact your mentor/advisor or if unavailable, follow the “organizational chart” contained in this manual.
Accreditation Status and Implications of Accreditation
The current Bethel University Physician Assistant Program obtained full accreditation from ARC-PA effective March, 2008. Provisional accreditation is granted for a limited defined period of time to a new program that, at the time of the site visit, has demonstrated its preparedness to initiate a program in accordance with the Standards. Provisional Accreditation does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status (ARC-PA, Standards, page 8).
Graduation from an accredited PA program is the only way to be eligible to sit for the National Certifying Exam (PANCE).
For more information regarding the implications of accreditation please visit: www.arc-pa.org .
Definition of a Physician Assistant
Physician assistants are health care professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. As part of their comprehensive responsibilities, PAs conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery, and write prescriptions. Within the physician-PA relationship, physician assistants exercise autonomy in medical decision making and provide a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services. A PA's practice may also include education, research, and administrative services. PAs are trained in intensive education programs accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). Because of the close working relationship that PAs have with physicians, PAs are educated in the medical model designed to complement physician training. Upon graduation, physician assistants take a national certification examination developed by the National Commission on Certification of PAs in conjunction with the National Board of Medical Examiners. To maintain their national certification, PAs must log 100 hours of continuing medical education every two years and sit for a recertification exam every six years. Graduation from an accredited physician assistant program and passage of the national certifying exam are required for state licensure (Source: www.aapa.org).
History of the Physician Assistant Profession
In the mid-1960s, Physicians and educators recognized that there was a shortage and uneven distribution of primary care physicians. To expand the delivery of quality medical care, Dr. Eugene Stead of the Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina put together the first class of PAs in 1965. He selected Navy corpsmen who received considerable medical training during their military service and during the war in Vietnam but who had no comparable civilian employment. He based the curriculum of the PA program in part on his knowledge of the fast-track training of doctors during World War II.
Implementation Period (1966 to 1972) - Development and establishment of first formal PA educational programs and PA professional organizations; enactment of model legislation; establishment of accreditation and certification procedures; endorsement and support of professional, private and Federal organizations; and performance of first acceptance, productivity and role definitions studies on PAs.
Evaluation and Standardization Period (1973 to 1980) - First AAPA conference held in Texas; first national certifying examination administered; continuing medical education (CME) and re-certifying examination requirements established; rapid expansion of baccalaureate PA educational programs stimulated by Federal training contracts; initial workforce studies conducted on PAs; establishment of AAPA House of Delegates; and enactment of PA enabling legislation by most states.
Incorporation Period (1981 to 1990) - PA role expansion and increased specialization; positive recognition of PA contributions to the workforce; approval of reimbursement of PA services in certain settings under Medicare Part B; awarding PAs commissioned officer status in uniformed services; passage and revision of legislation including prescriptive privileges in most states.
Maturation and Consolidation Period (1991 to 2000) - Health care reform provides new opportunities and risk for PAs; states continue to revise legislation, rules and regulations to reduce barriers to use PAs effectively in variety of health care settings; Veterans Administration Medical Centers, Military and other Federal sponsored health care institutions rely heavily on PAs to bolster medical staffs; HMOs recognize vital roles of PAs and NPs in reducing cost; steps are taken to foster and maintain close working relationships with organized medicine; rapid expansion of physician assistant programs and trend towards master's level education.
Expansion and Integration Period (2001 to Present) - The number of accredited PA educational programs surpasses 140; the profession celebrates its 35th anniversary; international interest in the PA model of health care delivery grows; record numbers of new PA graduates take the PANCE; and reduced MD resident hours spurs employment and postgraduate learning opportunities for PAs in hospital inpatient settings. (Source: http://www.pahx.org/ )
Program Overview
· Bethel University is related to the Cumberland Presbyterian Church and is supported by the denomination. In turn, the University provides leadership to the denomination through its graduates. Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) is the regional accrediting body for the colleges and universities in this geographic region. Bethel University is, and has been accredited by SACS continuously since 1953.The Bethel University Board of Trustees, and the University President, authorized the development of the physician assistant program and requested provisional accreditation through the ARC-PA, which was granted in March 2008.
· The Bethel University Physician Assistant Program will confer a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies degree upon completion of the 27 month educational program.
· The program’s curriculum will follow the medical education model with instructional modules to include: problem based learning, traditional lectures, lab practicums, and clinical practice emphasizing evidence based medicine.
· Integration of computer technology occurs throughout the program.
· Exposure to patient problems using case studies will begin early in the training to facilitate the development of critical thinking skills.
· Educational presentations will correlate information from various parts of the curriculum so as to prepare the future PA to think and evaluate a patient in a systematic fashion.
· The didactic year curriculum follows the NCCPA blueprint in regard to organ systems and task areas.
· Following the didactic year, the student will spend 15 months in clinical rotations with qualified preceptors learning “hands-on” medicine.
· The summative review, completed at the end of the clinical year, will evaluate the students readiness to graduate by comprehensive knowledge and skills testing.
· Finally, the student will have the unique opportunity to learn from experts about the “business” of medicine.
Office Hours
Faculty and staff are available during office hours which are posted on the bulletin boards. Students can also schedule appointments outside of office hours if needed. To avoid disruption of work or class, e-mail use should be used for communication. Students are not allowed in offices on the second floor or program directors conference room or office without being announced by the program secretary. YOU MUST BE ANNOUNCED REGARDLESS OF SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT TIMES.
Staff office hours are:
8:30-12:00pm and 1:00-4:30 pm M-F
Faculty:
Core faculty: Will be available during office hours
Adjunct faculty:
Adjunct faculty will not have pre-established office hours. Anyone wanting to talk with an adjunct faculty member needs to do so immediately after class or set up an appointment.
Faculty and Staff Contact Information
President
Rev. R. Prosser, DL DD 731-352-4240
Dean of Graduate Studies
Dr. Dorothy Black 731-352-3214
Program Director
Johnna Tanner, PA-C 731-352-4595
Medical Director
Joseph Hames, MD 731-352-0965
Academic Director
Gwen Ferdinand-Jacob, PA-C 731-352-5768
Clinical Director of Education
Pat Cafferty, PA-C 731-352-7753
Full Time Faculty
David Lutz, PA-C 731-352-0965
Director of Admissions/Office Manager
Sandy Atwill 731-352-5708
Clinical Director of Coordination
Misty Jez 731-352-7753
Academic Coordinator
Kim Hammonds 731-352-4247
Assistant Faculty
Jeff Wilbert, PA-C 731-352-0965
Adjunct Faculty
JC Carey, PA-C 731-352-4247
J. Turner, PhD 731-352-4247
P. Brinkman, PA-C 731-352-4247
• The emergency contact number for the program is (731) 352-5708. If you can not reach someone at this number, dial (731) 352-4247 or (731) 352-7753.
• The phone number for the computer help desk is (731) 352-4040.
• For emergencies- dial (731) 352-7599 for Bethel University Security
Organizational Chart
The core PA faculty and administrative support staff provide a full range of academic and administrative services. Refer to this chart to follow the proper chain of command. Pink highlight indicates support staff positions.
Chapter Two: Safety and Security
Safety Issues
In the event of any safety, harassment, conflict or other threatening situations, students are advised to use the following procedures.
· First and foremost, if you feel imminent danger in any situation: clearly communicate your distress/situation via any means possible; remove yourself from the situation and call 9-1-1
· Any incident of emergent need must be reported immediately to any staff or faculty personnel present, who will then take appropriate safety measures. If faculty or staff is not present, call 9-1-1.
· Any incident concerning criminal or suspicious activities must be reported to campus security at 731-415-7599. BUPAP should be made aware as soon as possible of all incidents regardless of whom it was reported. Our Physical Address is: 647 Stonewall St. N, McKenzie, TN 38201
Occupational Health and Safety
Occupational health and safety is addressed on an annual basis: first, during orientation week of the matriculating class, and again, during introduction to the clinical year. Instruction will be given in a group environment concerning HIPPA, OSHA, and blood-born pathogens/universal precautions. In cases where students miss these lectures, individual orientation will be provided. In no case will a student be admitted to the next step in their education until these classes have been completed.
Blood Borne Pathogen and Accident Policy
Reporting Procedures: Should you sustain a needle stick or exposure to a potentially infectious and/or hazardous substance during a lab or suffer any other injury:
If you are in a lab class and receive a needle stick, other exposure, or accident please proceed as follows: contact the course instructor to report the incident. Complete an incident report form and submit it to your advisor. If necessary, you will be taken to the local emergency department or medical clinic for immediate care and subsequent follow-up.