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Mission, Vision, Goals, and Measures of Success

Mission

The mission of the University of South ³ÉÈË¿ì²¥ Physician Assistant (PA) Studies Program is to educate compassionate and competent individuals from diverse backgrounds to become highly qualified physician assistants in accordance with the highest professional standards to provide a broad spectrum of preventative and curative healthcare to patients in various communities and clinical settings with physician supervision including underserved populations in ³ÉÈË¿ì²¥ both rural and urban. The emphasis of the program is one of primary care, including a broad foundation in the medical and surgical specialties.

Vision

The Physician Assistant Studies program curriculum is closely related to the goals of the University of South ³ÉÈË¿ì²¥ as well as to the degree. The program fosters an environment that promotes the acquisition and application of culturally sensitive, patient-oriented clinical knowledge and skills to produce a diverse workforce of primary care physician assistants who practice medicine with competence, professionalism, and compassion driven by academic excellence and a spirit of service to the community.

Goals and Measures of Success

The goals of the PA program are to:

Emphasize in rural and medically underserved communities. 

1. Student/Community Service / 70% out of 100% per cohort
2. Graduate Exit Survey (Student Community Service Involvement) />3.5 out of 5.0 per cohort

1. Rural SCPE Participation / 100% out of 100% per cohort

Success

Promote excellence in healthcare by preparing competent physician assistants to practice evidence-based medicine in all clinical settings

1. Preceptor Eval of Student (evidence-based medicine) />3.5 out of 5.0 per cohort
2. Graduate Exit Survey (Preparation in EBM) />3.5 out of 5.0 per cohort
3. Student End of Didactic Phase Survey (Preparation in EBM) />3.5 out of 5.0 per cohort
4. Faculty Eval of Curriculum (Preparation in EBM) />3.5 out of 5.0 per cohort
   
   

Success

To recruit, select, and educate a highly qualified student body

Criteria #1 – Cumulative GPA and Science GPA
Measures/Benchmarks:

1. Undergraduate cumulative GPAs/ >3.58 out of 4.0 average for cohort
2. Undergraduate science GPAs/ >3.52 out of 4.0 average for cohort
   
   

Success of Goal

Prepare physician assistant students to provide patient-centered healthcare services as part of an inter-professional, collaborative team in a variety of clinical settings.

Criteria # 1 – Practice patient-centered medicine
Measure/ Benchmark:

1. Preceptor Eval of Student (patient-centered medicine)/ >3.5 out of 5.0 per cohort
2. Graduate Exit Survey (Patient-centered care)/ >3.5 out of 5.0 per cohort
3. Student End of Didactic Phase Survey (Preparation in Patient -centered care) / >3.5 out of 5.0 per cohort
4. Faculty Eval of Curriculum (Preparation in Patient -centered care) / >3.5 out of 5.0 per cohort
   
   

Success

Criteria # 2 – Interprofessional ³ÉÈË¿ì²¥
Measure/ Benchmark:

1. Graduate Exit Survey (Preparation in interprofessional ³ÉÈË¿ì²¥)/ >3.5 out of 5.0 per cohort
2. Faculty Eval of Curriculum (Preparation in interprofessional ³ÉÈË¿ì²¥)/ >3.5 out of 5.0 per cohort
3. Student End of Didactic Phase Survey (Preparation in interprofessional ³ÉÈË¿ì²¥)/ >3.5 out of 5.0 per cohort
   
   

Success

Charge physician assistant students to become graduates who reflect high standards of professionalism.

Criteria #1 – Professionalism of students
Measures/Benchmarks:

1. Student Graduate Exit Survey (Preparation in Professionalism) >3.5/5.0 cohort average
2. Preceptor Eval of Student (Preparation in Professionalism) >3.5 out of 5.0 per cohort
3. Faculty Eval of Curriculum (Preparation in Professionalism) >3.5/5.0 cohort average
4. Student End of Didactic Phase Survey, (Preparation in Professionalism) >3.5/5.0 cohort average
   
   

Success of Goal

Foster the growth and development of PA ³ÉÈË¿ì²¥ by preparing physician assistant graduates who possess depth of knowledge and clinical skills for excellence in practice.

Criteria #1 – Medical knowledge of students
Measures/Benchmarks:

1. Student Graduate Exit Survey (Student Preparation in medical knowledge) >3.5/5.0 cohort average
2. Preceptor Eval of Students (medical knowledge) / >3.5/5.0 cohort average
3. Faculty Eval of Curriculum (Student Preparation in medical knowledge) >3.5/5.0 cohort average
4. Student End of Didactic Phase (Preparation in medical knowledge) >3.5/5.0 cohort average
   
   

Success of Goal: 

Criteria #2 – Clinical skills of students (Physical Exam)
Measures/Benchmarks:

1. Student Graduate Exit Survey (Student Preparation in clinical skills) />3.5/5.0 cohort average
2. Preceptor Eval of Students (Clinical skills) />3.5/5.0 cohort average
3. Faculty Eval of Curriculum (Student Preparation in clinical skills) />3.5/5.0 cohort average
4. Student End of Didactic Phase (Preparation in clinical skills) />3.5/5.0 cohort average
   
   

Success of Goal:

Promote in our physician assistant students the importance of ongoing professional development to meet and/or exceed contemporary performance standards within their area(s) of clinical practice. 

Criteria #1 – Professional Involvement of Students
Measures/Benchmarks:

1. Student AAPA participation/>70%/100% cohort participation
2. Participation in PA Organizations />3.5/5.0 cohort average

Success of Goal: