PA Appendices
Appendix 1: Rights and Responsibilities of Program Faculty
Faculty members of the PA program have specific responsibilities assigned to them on a daily basis. The four major responsibilities include: Academic instruction, clinical practice scholarly research; and departmental, school, institutional, professional, and community service.Faculty members are assigned teaching responsibilities each semester by the Chairperson based on information provided by the Program Director. These assignments are based in part upon the faculty member’s expertise, professional interest, and research. On occasion, a faculty member may be instructed to teach a course that has not been taught in the past due to scheduling problems or a faculty shortage in one or more areas of the program.Nevertheless, every effort is made to ensure the quality of instruction.Near the end of each semester, the faculty members are assessed by the students. These assessments are reviewed by the Program Director, Chairperson, and the Dean relative to teaching effectiveness, promotion, tenure, retention, and merit pay. The student’s assessments are important to the department and are taken seriously. All assessments are anonymous, however comments should be constructive and professional.Every PA faculty member is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) and is licensed by the Texas Medical Board. Furthermore, each faculty member must show proof of continuing medical education (CME), meeting both the state and national requirements. Typically CME credit is obtained by attendance at professional conferences, workshops, seminars, and journal reading. The principal faculty, the program director and the medical director are all competent healthcare providers, however, they are not the student's healthcare provider. The principal faculty, the program director and the medical director are prohibited from participating as healthcare providers for students in the program, except in an emergency. Each faculty member is expected to contribute to a scholarly profession through publication, presentations, workshops, consultations, and reviews.Each faculty member is also assigned numerous service responsibilities. These include regular departmental faculty and committee meetings within the department, school, and institution. On average, faculty members attend at least two of these meetings per month and spend considerable time outside of the meetings working on assigned projects. Other service roles are demonstrated through participation in professional organizations on local, regional, and/or national levels.Another important aspect of each faculty member’s position is advising. Each faculty member counsels students on topics such as career opportunities, research, comprehensive examinations, post graduate education, certification, or any other topic related to academia. Faculty members are also responsible for informing students about their legal rights at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. These include the rights of the disabled student as stated below and on each course syllabus.Faculty are also obligated to protect each student’s privacy. Posting of grades by the student’s names is strictly forbidden by federal law. Grades may be posted by personal test number or some other method which maintains the student’s confidentiality, but are encouraged to be released via the current learning management system (i.e. SAKAI). Faculty are also prohibited from discussing grades and/or performance with a student’s family members or anyone else without the student’s written permission.
Appendix 2: Guidelines for Ethical Conduct for the Physician Assistant Profession
AAPA Policy
The Guidelines for Ethical Conduct for the Physician Assistant Profession were written by PAs for PAs. This ethics manual outlines the fundamental principles of the profession and describes ways in which the principles might apply in professional life. Each PA must use his or her best judgment in any situation while considering the preferences of the patient and the supervising physician, clinical information, ethical concepts, and legal obligations. Students in the PA Program are held to the same standards of the PA profession.The guidelines can be viewed in their entirety at the following weblink.https://www.aapa.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/16-EthicalConduct.pdf
Appendix 3: Statement of Values of the PA Profession
NCCPA Code of Conduct
Below is the Code of Conduct for Certified and Certifying Physician Assistants as stated by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) and can also be found at the following web link: https://www.nccpa.net/code-of-conduct. All PA students are held to the same standards of conduct as defined by the NCCPA, and breeches of conduct may be reportable to the NCCPA.
Appendix 4: Technical Standards
Technical Standards
A student admitted into the TTUHSC Physician Assistant Program must meet basic and essential requirements that are necessary for obtaining employment and performing as a Physician Assistant. The technical standards each student must master include cognitive, physical, and behavioral characteristics that are identified in the following:Observation:
The applicant/student must possess the ability to observe required demonstrations, visual presentations in lectures and laboratories, and written and audiovisual presentations. Examples of perceptual abilities include but are not limited to gross and microscopic studies of organisms, cadaver dissections, and various diagnostic tests such as interpretation of echo cardiograms, digital and wavelength readings, and graphic or radiographic images. The applicant/student must be able to observe patients accurately and completely, both at distance and closely using functional visual, hearing, and somatic sensation.Communication:
The applicant/student must possess the ability to communicate effectively with patients to elicit information, including nonverbal communications, and describe changes in mood, activity, and posture with immediate assessment of information provided. Individuals must possess the ability to communicate effectively with clinical preceptors and other members of the healthcare team, didactic and clinical faculty, and colleagues. The applicant/student must possess the ability to effectively and sensitively communicate in oral, written, and electronic form with patients and members of the healthcare team in order to provide safe and effective patient care.Motor:
The applicant/student must possess sufficient gross and fine motor function, equilibrium, and sensation to elicit information from patients through customary techniques for physical assessment such as visual observation/inspection, palpation, percussion, and auscultation as well as carry out diagnostic maneuvers and technical procedures involved in the practice of medicine and surgery. Examples reasonably required of physician assistants include cardiopulmonary resuscitation, application of pressure to stop bleeding, venous and arterial punctures, suturing, pelvic and rectal exams, obstetrical maneuvers, and opening of obstructed airways.Intellectual, conceptual, integrative, and quantitative abilities:
The applicant/student must possess the ability to comprehend three dimensional relationships and spatial relationships of structures; and be able to collect, organize, prioritize, analyze and synthesize large amounts of detailed and complex information to apply in problem-solving and decision-making in clinical and educational settings including lectures, laboratories, small group discussions and clinical settings.Behavioral and Social Attributes:
The applicant/student must be able to tolerate physical and mental taxing workloads, function effectively under stress, adapt to changing environments, display flexibility, and function in the face of uncertainty inherent in the evaluation and treatment of patients. The applicant/student must have the emotional health to fully use his/her intellectual ability, exercise good judgment, and complete all responsibilities necessary to the diagnosis and care of patients. The applicant/student must possess integrity, compassion, and effective interpersonal skills to interact with patients and members of the healthcare team with sensitivity to cultural differences. The applicant/student must be able to understand and apply the concepts of medical ethics and demonstrate ethical behavior.Candidates for selection to the PA program will be required to verify that they understand and meet the essential functions or believe that, with reasonable accommodations, they can meet the standards. TTUHSC OP 10.15 complies with the American with Disabilities Act (ADA), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and state and local requirements regarding students with disabilities. Under these laws, no otherwise qualified and competitive individual with a disability shall be denied access to or participate in services, programs, and activities of TTUHSC solely on the basis of the disability. For additional information, please see https://www.ttuhsc.edu/student-services/Reviewed by legal counsel, 06/03/2015; effective June, 2016
Appendix 5: Midland College Map
