Master of Physician Assistant Studies
PA Program
Welcome
Welcome to the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Master of Physician Assistant Studies Program! The professional curriculum of the TTUHSC PA Program is a 27-month program consisting of 125 semester equivalent credit hours of academic and clinical education. Students will spend 15 months completing didactic coursework at the Midland campus. Students will then enter the clinical phase, completing 8 supervised clinical practice experiences in various medical disciplines. Students will also learn principles of evidence-based medicine and complete a master's project paper during the clinical year. The program is competency-based, meaning that to graduate, each student must be able to demonstrate:Medical Knowledge
Clinical and Technical Skills
Interpersonal and Communication Skills
Professionalism
Community Consciousness and Societal Health
Clinical Reasoning and Problem Solving
Upon completion of the program, students are awarded the Master of Physician Assistant Studies Degree and are eligible for the National Commission for Certification of the Physician Assistant (NCCPA) PANCE examination.This
handbook will guide you through the twenty-seven months of the TTUHSC
PA Program. You are responsible for reading and understanding this
handbook, and your performance evaluations will reflect your adherence
to departmental policies. Periodically, the information in the Student
Handbook may change. Every effort will be made to keep you informed
through suitable lines of communication. In addition, the School of
Health Professions policies and the University’s official operating
procedures are updated regularly and can be accessed online. To meet the dynamic and complex demands of the PA profession,
your education will be comprised of didactic and clinical coursework
that will be more rigorous than your previous undergraduate college
experience. Upon entering the TTUHSC PA Program, you will become a
professional graduate student. It will be your responsibility, and you
will be expected to, develop professional attitudes and clinical
judgment. The faculty and staff are completely committed to supporting
you in your academic success, professional growth, and clinical
endeavors. We are available to help you in your commitment to becoming a
PA.Acknowledgment of Receipt
The
Student Handbook is an important document intended to assist the
physician assistant student in becoming familiar with the Texas Tech
University Health Sciences Center, School of Health Professions,
Department of Laboratory Sciences and Primary Care, Physician Assistant Program. The provisions of this Handbook do not constitute a contract,
express or implied, between any student or faculty member and Texas Tech
University System, TTUHSC, School of Health Professions, Department of
Laboratory Sciences and Primary Care, or the Physician Assistant
program.The
University has a responsibility to maintain order within the University
community and to discipline those who violate its standards, rules, and/or policies. Enrollment requires students to share this
responsibility. Students agree to abide by the
standards, rules, and/or policies set forth in this Student Handbook,
the TTUHSC Student Handbook Code of Professional Conduct, all TTUHSC
Operating Policies and Procedures, and the individual Schools’ catalogs
and any other official University publications. All University, School, and PA Program Policies apply to all students, principal faculty, and the program director regardless of location.The
contents of this handbook may be changed at any time at the discretion
of the Department and Program. The Department and Program maintain their rights and prerogative to make and change policies as necessary and
without prior notice. The most current edition of this publication will
be available on the School of Health Professions website. The Handbook
supersedes all previous editions. Students are responsible for
periodically accessing any revisions to the publications online.All
students in the Physician Assistant Program are required to sign a
statement acknowledging responsibility to read the Student Handbook and
be familiar with its contents.Important Contacts and General Information
Faculty and Staff
Faculty: https://www.ttuhsc.edu/health-professions/master-physician-assistant-studies/faculty.aspxStaff:https://www.ttuhsc.edu/health-professions/master-physician-assistant-studies/staff.aspxSHP Administration
Administration: https://www.ttuhsc.edu/health-professions/administration/default.aspxDepartment Chairs: https://www.ttuhsc.edu/health-professions/administration/department_chair.aspxSHP Administrative Staff
Administrative Staff: https://www.ttuhsc.edu/health-professions/administration/administrative_staff.aspxSHP Office of Admissions and Student Affairs
Admissions: https://www.ttuhsc.edu/health-professions/admissions/
TTUHSC PA Program Building and Campus Information
3600 N Garfield
Midland, TX 79705
(432) 620-1120
Fax (432) 620-8605Texas Tech PA Program Building Hours
Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pmStudent badge access 24/7Midland College
Library Hours
Current hours available on the website at: https://www.midland.edu/services-resources/library/index.phpDining
Current Hours available on the website at: https://www.midland.edu/campus-life/campus-living/dining.php
Copies and Printing
Printing is available on-campus via PaperCut through the TTUHSC Library. Two printers are available in the Midland PA Building; one color printer and one black and white printer. Scanning is also available with the use of a personal USB device. Please see https://ttuhsc.libguides.com/papercut
Classroom Behavior
Food and Drink:
Due to the sensitive nature of the electronic equipment, it is important to maintain the organization and cleanliness of all classrooms and laboratories. Food is not allowed in the classrooms. Drinks are allowed if they are in a closed container. Adequate breaks are scheduled in the curriculum and the student lounges are available.Classroom Seating:
Seating in the classroom is a first-come-first-serve basis. Due to the high number of students enrolled in the program, students may be assigned seating in the classroom or for specific activities as defined by course instructors.The program may make a seating chart to aid instructors with this need. If a student requires an assigned seat due to an identified disability, the student will need to contact the Office of Student Affairs and provide the necessary documentation. Once sufficient documentation has been provided, special accommodations will be granted.Desktops must be cleared at the end of each day. Items left in the classroom will be disposed of at the end of the day. The program is not responsible for any items left unattended in classrooms.
Community Service, Health Fairs, and Additional Shadowing Experiences
Outside of normal coursework, the Program does not sanction or support students to provide medical care or health screenings as health care providers. Students must be supervised at all times and are only covered by liability insurance when completing defined course requirements.
Electronic Devices
All electronic communication devices must be turned off or placed in silent mode when students are in class or clinic. If you have an emergency and must take a phone call, you must step out of the room. During class, all electronic devices must be used only for the purpose of classroom activities. Use of instant messaging, Twitter, Facebook, personal email, texting, or all other applications not related to materials being presented is prohibited during all classroom, laboratory, or clinical activities. Repeated violations of this policy may result in disciplinary action.
Employment while in the PA Program
The PA program curriculum is time-intensive and concentrated. Students are strongly discouraged from employment during their term as PA students. Work hours must not conflict with classroom or clerkship obligations. Students are not required to work for the program. Opportunities to work for the School of Health Professions or Institute of Anatomical Sciences as a graduate teaching assistant may be offered by application only.PA Students must not substitute or function as instructional faculty and clinical or administrative staff during the course of the program curriculum.
Furniture and Program Equipment
Furniture policy:
Students must obtain permission before moving any furniture or equipment from a room, and then only with the understanding that the student is responsible for returning the items to their original location.Equipment:
Faculty members will determine and implement the proper procedures for the use of all equipment and supplies in the classrooms and laboratories. Any equipment used must be returned to its designated location in a clean, sanitary, and good-working condition. It is the student’s responsibility to learn the proper use of the equipment and take the initiative to report equipment malfunctions. Loss, abuse, or suspected theft of equipment or supplies should be reported to the faculty immediately.Use of program equipment by students is confined to TTUHSC unless approved by the program director for official class operations in accordance with the TTUHSC Operating Policy (HSC OP 61.01). With this stated removal of departmental equipment, the student will be financially responsible for the entire replacement cost of the item(s) in the event of damage, loss, or theft.Students are not permitted to remove any departmental equipment from university facilities for personal use.
Faculty Office Hours and Appointments
Students are reminded that office hours and appointments are reserved for them to meet with every faculty member and clinical supervisor. Faculty will make every reasonable effort to meet with students. Instructors maintain office hours as per their syllabi, and faculty members are available by appointment, as needed. If a student cannot arrange a meeting with the faculty member, he or she should contact the Program Director.
Lockers
The program offers lockers to students on a first-come-first-serve basis. Lockers may be kept during the didactic phase of the program only and students are highly encouraged to place a lock on their locker. The program is not responsible for theft of any personal items placed in the lockers.
Logos
Departments and other TTUHSC organizations may use the official TTUHSC logos. However, TTUHSC logos are legally protected trademarks, and restrictions apply. TTUHSC student organizations that wish to use any of the TTUHSC logos must contact PA Program Administration for prior approval and further instructions under the guidance of the assigned student society Faculty Advisor.
Student Services Fees and Midland College Access
Midland College offers access to the MC campus and events to the TTUHSC PA students with your TTUHSC ID badge. This provides access to the library (with limited printing services), discount tickets to various community events, and other Midland College events. The fitness center is included.Fitness memberships are offered to all students paying the student services fees (didactic students) each semester at the Midland Planet Fitness at 1000 N. Midkiff Rd. Authorization forms will be distributed through Sakai each semester.Clerkship year students will fall into the category "students at a distance" and pay 20% of the fee. If a student during the clerkship year would like access to full services due to being near a branch campus with access to a gym and other services, they must opt-in and pay 100% of the student services fee. These branch campuses include Midland, Lubbock, Amarillo, and Abilene. Clerkship students can opt-in by contacting Student Business Services.
Name Badge and Door Access Badge
Name Badge:
All TTUHSC personnel (faculty, staff, and students) are required to always wear an official TTUHSC identification badge while on a TTUHSC campus. Students also must wear their name badges on any clerkship site. For replacement, contact shp.studentaffairs@ttuhsc.eduYour TTUHSC badge will also grant access to the Midland PA building, lounges, and anatomy lab, as needed.
Student Success
The faculty and staff want every student to be successful. Students should be mentally and physically prepared to cope with a rigorous curriculum in PA studies. Students should carefully organize their activities to succeed. The faculty fully expects that each student will devote a minimum of three hours per week for every academic credit hour they have enrolled in the program. For example, a student taking fifteen hours of course work will need to spend forty-five hours per week studying. That’s a full-time job for anyone, and students would be well advised to consider it as such. Those who need assistance with managing the demands of the program are encouraged to reach out to their advisor for guidance on additional resources that are available. The PA program also works with students to develop remediation plans designed to supplement knowledge or skill areas.Section 1:Overview of the Program
Accreditation
The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) has granted Accreditation-Continued status to the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Health Professions Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Accreditation-Continued is an accreditation status granted when a currently accredited program is in compliance with the ARC-PA Standards.Accreditation remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards. The approximate date for the next validation review of the program by the ARC-PA will be March 2033. The review date is contingent upon continued compliance with the Accreditation Standards and ARC-PA policy.The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at https://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-texas-tech-university/.
Section 2: Professionalism and ConductBecoming a
Professional
Students of the TTUHSC PA Program
have decided to become a medical professional and member of the
healthcare team. The health professions are based on a high degree of trust by
the individuals and patients they serve. Being a student in a health sciences
environment is different from the typical university or college classroom.
Students entering the PA profession have an obligation to conduct themselves at
all times in a manner that reflects ethical and honest behavior.TTUHSC PA Students are held to a
high standard of professional and ethical conduct throughout the program.
Professional conduct not only affects one’s ability to practice medicine, but
also the reputation of the TTUHSC PA Program and image of its students.
Students will represent the program in a professional manner in many settings
including the class, campus community, institution, and clinical community.All students are expected to
exhibit professional conduct in all academic and clinical settings. Students
and student organizations are subject to disciplinary action according to the
provisions of the Student Code and/or any other applicable University rules or
regulations. Each student is responsible to become familiar with the various
regulations of the University and meet the various requirements outlined
below. Written policies are described in
university publications such as this Handbook and the Schools’ individual
catalogs. Each student, in accepting admission, indicates a willingness to
subscribe to and be governed by the rules and regulations of University
officials to take such disciplinary action, including dismissal or expulsion,
as may be deemed appropriate for failure to abide by such rules and
regulations.Resources such as the TTUHSC
Student Handbook and Code of Conduct, and the Code of Ethical Conduct of the
Physician Assistant Profession illustrate more clearly the standards to which
students will be held. In addition to the guidelines stated in the TTUHSC
policy, the behavior of a student enrolled in the PA program will be guided by the Generic Abilities
and Technical Standards listed in this handbook. This creates an atmosphere of
mutual trust and respect among all members of the campus and medical community.Each student is responsible for
his/her own integrity and is likewise responsible for reporting possible
violations of the Student Code by other students. Faculty and staff shall take all reasonable
steps to prevent violations, and each faculty/staff member likewise is
responsible for reporting violations.The TTUHSC Student Handbook Code
of Professional Conduct may be found at: https://www.ttuhsc.edu/student-affairs/handbook.aspxAppropriate behavior in sharing of course materials
The
distribution of any course materials, including but not limited to lecture
slides, handouts, assignments, test materials, or other study materials is
intended only for personal use by registered students in the current cohort. The sharing or distribution of any course materials with anyone other than members
of the current class is strictly prohibited and will be considered
unprofessional and a violation of academic conduct standards and subject to
disciplinary action.
Student
Professional Development Evaluation
Purpose of Evaluation:
TTUHSC PA students are held to a high standard of professionalism and ethical behavior through all phases of the PA Program. Professionalism is always expected: in the classroom, in the clinics and hospitals, and at program or school-sponsored events. Professionalism will be evaluated toward the end of every semester while in the PA Program using the Professional Development Evaluation form (PDE) distributed on the Sakai Class site. Evaluations will be a part of the PA student record and will be used when future employers, licensing, and credentialing boards request reference information.Frequency of Professional Development Evaluations:
PDE will be completed each semester during the didactic phase and each clerkship course during the clinical phase. Grading policies for the PDE are defined in individual course syllabi. In the event a student receives an unsatisfactory PDE grade, the Student Progression Committee (SPC) will review that student’s entire academic record and may impose probation, remedial action, or dismissal.
Communication
with the Program
Official Email:
All official e-mail communication to TTUHSC
students is sent to the e-mail address provided by TTUHSC. E-mail
communications should not be sent to faculty or staff from a student’s personal
e-mail account. Faculty and staff are not required to respond to e-mails sent
from a student’s personal e-mail account. The SHP and the PA program are not
responsible for consequences related to unheeded e-mail correspondence.Mode of
Communication:
Students are encouraged to communicate with faculty and other
students through e-mail. The class distribution email list should be utilized
for program and student business purposes only. The use of social media accounts
or groups is not allowed or supported for program or student organization
business. All student organization communications must utilize TTUHSC email.Timely Communication:
It is the student’s responsibility to
check this account daily to ensure important communications are not
missed. Students should make every attempt to respond to email within 2
business days unless stated otherwise in the email.Faculty and
staff will check email during business hours and make every effort to respond
to emails and voicemails within 2 business days. If unavailable, an out-of-office message will direct students who to contact for additional assistance.
Attendance
Students are expected to be available to attend all
scheduled classes and clinics as per the published SHP academic calendar and
course syllabus. For additional
information concerning attendance during the clinical year, refer to Section 4:
Clinical Attendance Policies.Class and Laboratory:
Required classes and events for
students are generally scheduled between the hours of 8 AM and 5 PM; however,
it may be necessary to hold classes, labs, or activities outside of these
hours. Students are required to attend classes at scheduled times as published
in the course syllabus and SAKAI. Students should arrive 10 minutes prior to
class/exam start time.Excused Absences:
Emergency excused absences: If
it is necessary to miss or be late for a class session, it is the student’s
responsibility to notify the PA Program staff at 432-620-1120 and their
advisor prior to class. The student is responsible for material
covered.Excused absences will be granted
for illness or a crisis situation involving the student or the student’s
immediate family. Written documentation as evidence for the crisis incident is
required. The Program Director will evaluate other situations that may
constitute a valid excuse for absence on a case-by-case basis. Sick days are
intended for use only in the event of personal illness or to assist a member of
the immediate family who is acutely ill. If an absence for illness is for more
than one day, documentation of the illness from a licensed healthcare provider
must be provided to the student’s
academic advisor and included in the student’s academic file.Non-Emergency excused absences: Requests
for an excused absence must be submitted to the student’s academic advisor no
later than 30 days in advance of the date(s) of the requested excused absence. The request must include the activities that will be missed. The request will be
presented to the Student Progression Committee for consideration and final
approval. Categories of possible excused absences include the following:a. Attendance at a professional meeting or conference:
Students may attend the TAPA and/or AAPA CME conference only if prior approval
is obtained from the Program
Director and Advisor. The student must be in good standing and have grade averages in all courses >80 to consider attendance.b. Absence due to religious observance: Students may be
excused to observe a holy day
observed by religion as defined by HSC OP77.12.c. Wedding attendance: Approval may be granted for one-day absence for immediate family
members (as defined under TTUHSC Family and Medical Leave policy HSC OP 70.32)
or if the student is a confirmed member of the wedding party. Student must
indicate his/her relationship to the couple, role in the wedding, date of ceremony, and location of the event.d. Other requests: Other categories for requesting a
non-emergency excused absence are considered at the discretion of the Student
Progression Committee.Excessive excused or Unexcused Absences:
Excessive excused
or any unexcused absences are not permitted and will be referred to the Student
Progression Committee. This may result in negative Professional Development
Evaluation and/or disciplinary action. Absences not preapproved may be
considered unexcused, except in special circumstances. Unexcused absences may
include the following: oversleeping, time conflicts with personal commitments,
family reunions, weddings, vacations, or other types of social events.Late arrivals:
If you arrive late for class, you are to
enter quietly by the door furthest from the podium, proceed to your seat, and be
seated with the least possible disruption to the class. Repeated tardiness or
non-participation will be reflected on the evaluation under Professional
Conduct and Development and may result in a lower grade based on course syllabus
policies.Personal Days during Clerkship Year:
Up to two (2) personal
excused absence days may be taken during the Clerkship Year. Personal days are considered non-emergency
excused absences and must also be submitted to the assigned faculty advisor 30 days in advance of the date for the requested absence
(special consideration may be given for fellowship interviews with less notice
at the discretion of the SPC). No more
than one personal day may be requested and excused per clerkship course. Examples of personal days include attendance
at family events, job interviews, or addressing personal needs.Absences on
Test Days:
See Testing Policy and
Procedure for additional information.
Dress Code
Purpose:
University-wide standards of dress and behavior
should be observed both on campus and in the classroom. Neatness and modesty
are valued and expected.Personal grooming and hygiene are
a priority. Members of the faculty and staff have the authority and
responsibility to maintain standards of student dress and grooming within the
classrooms, laboratories, and other areas of public presentations within the
campus and community. The dress code reflects professional integrity and
special needs of the individual classes. Professional dress is always expected of
students throughout the program.Appropriate Attire in
Classroom and Lab:
Examples of unacceptable
attire during classes includes, but is not limited to, the following:- Ragged, torn, or unkempt clothing
- Halter tops or tank tops
- Spaghetti straps
- Midriffs
- Short shorts or skirts
- Clothing items with excessive rips or tears·
- Athletic wear including warm-up style pants or leggings, sweat pants or yoga pants
- Perfume, cologne, or other fragrances which may be bothersome to others.
Dress Code
at Clinical Sites during Clerkship Courses:
Unless specifically defined
by the clinical site, students should be dressed business casual with White
Coat. Scrub attire is only appropriate
for surgical/ER or procedural settings.Clothing should allow for adequate
movement during patient care and should not be tight, short, or low cut.
Necklines should be high enough to not expose chest, hemlines to knee length,
shoes must be closed-toe, jewelry kept to a minimum, pierced areas should be
free of ornament, and tattoos will be covered. All efforts should be made to
wear clothing that does not draw attention to oneself.Fragrances should be minimal.OSHA Standards:
For all classes involving lab or clinical
performance and while on clinical rotations, students are required to wear
attire consistent with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
standards if there is any risk of exposure to blood, bodily fluids, chemicals, or potentially harmful agents. Legs must be covered and footwear must cover the
majority of the foot (such as athletic shoes). Open-toed shoes may not be worn.Dress Code
for Examination:
See Testing Policy and Procedure for specific information.Special Exceptions:
Specific events, VIP visits, or other
times at the program may require that students are dressed in business casual
attire. The Program Director or Program Business Manager will notify students of the
requirement on a case-by-case basis.
Clerkship Course
Professional Requirements
General Guidelines:
The PA Program at the Texas Tech
University Health Sciences Center strives to provide an exemplary education to
students for careers in primary healthcare. As future members of the healthcare
team, students will learn to be a member of the interprofessional healthcare
team in providing healthcare services to patients.Students on their clinical
clerkship assignments are expected to always act professionally.
Students are expected to show up on time; be respectful of their preceptors,
other healthcare professionals, patients, and patients’ families; and maintain
a positive, agreeable attitude. Clinical preceptors and their staff are not
paid by the TTUHSC PA Program and provide their services and knowledge in a
purely altruistic manner.Patient Privacy
and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
Students are
expected and required to respect the patient’s privacy. Discussing the patient, their family, or medical
problems outside of the office or where others can overhear is strictly prohibited.HIPAA Training:
Each student receives HIPAA training
administered through TTUHSC. Students are required to complete the training
prior to orientation. Questions regarding training requirements should be
directed to the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs at (806) 743-3220 or health.professions@ttuhsc.edu.HIPAA Compliance:
Failure to comply with this policy is
subject to disciplinary action and may be grounds for dismissal. HIPAA
violations will be addressed by Institutional Compliance and/or the Student
Progress Committee (SPC) to determine the continued academic standing of the
student in the program.
Section 3: CurriculumAcademic
Calendar
Published academic calendar:
The Academic Calendar can be
accessed at the following web link: https://www.ttuhsc.edu/health-professions/academic-calendar/default.aspxRequired classes and activities:
Students are expected to be
available during defined times on the published academic calendar. Students
should reserve travel plans or activities for defined
breaks between terms and/or clerkship courses.
PA Program Curriculum
Overview
Curriculum Design and Philosophy:
The PA Program curriculum
is designed to prepare graduates to provide excellent patient care across their
lifespan. Education will be divided into 15 months of didactic coursework, followed by a
year of clinical clerkship courses, providing students with a variety of
experiences in different areas of medicine. The professional curriculum of the
TTUHSC PA Program consists of 125-semester equivalent hours of academic and
clinical education.The curriculum includes core
knowledge and skills about evolving basic and clinical preparatory sciences,
interpersonal and communication skills, social and behavioral sciences, healthcare delivery and professional practice, and the application of knowledge and
skills in patient care. The didactic sequencing builds a foundation of basic sciences and continues with application to clinical medicine, with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required for clinical practice. Didactic courses are
delivered with multiple teaching methods including lecture, laboratory, case
discussions, collaborative learning experiences, and hybrid course delivery.Supervised clinical experiences
provide hands-on clinical experiences in family medicine, internal medicine,
pediatrics, OB/GYN, surgery, psychiatry, emergency medicine, and
selective specialty. The student should be ready for travel by personal
vehicle. Since many clinical sites are away from the Midland-Odessa area, all
students must expect to be assigned to these away sites and should anticipate
the need to find housing in these areas during the clinical portion of the
program.Required Courses:
The required courses
and course descriptions for the PA Program are available in the TTUHSC SHP
catalog.Catalog: https://www.ttuhsc.edu/health-professions/catalog.aspxCurriculum: https://www.ttuhsc.edu/health-professions/master-physician-assistant-studies/curriculum.aspx
Class Schedules
Class schedules will be published on course
syllabi and on SAKAI under the “Class of-“ SAKAI
site. Students are encouraged to check SAKAI daily for updates or other
program announcements. Schedules are subject to change at any time, and
therefore, flex times are posted on the calendar to allow for scheduling needs
of the program. In addition, activities required for clinical site orientations may be scheduled outside of regular class time and are required.
Scheduling of
extra-curricular and outside events
Student groups wishing to schedule
events may do so before or after regularly scheduled class times or during
lunchtime. Approval must be received from the Program Director prior to contacting
outside guest lecturers. Once approved by the Program Director, students must
work with the program staff to reserve appropriate classroom
locations and resources for the event.
Course Syllabi
The program defines and publishes learning outcomes and instructional objectives, in measurable terms, with defined evaluations and assessments in the course syllabi. Course expectations and policies are also included. The course syllabus will be posted on SAKAI for each course. For clerkship
courses, the course syllabi are posted on the “Class of-“ SAKAI site.
Student
Expectations of Performance
The following assumptions apply to
the way each student is expected to meet the objectives of every
course. Since all of these expectations apply to each course, these standard
expectations are not repeated in each course document.- The student demonstrates a systematic, safe, accurate, timely, and
efficient approach to the accomplishment of each objective and demonstrates the
efficient use of materials in each activity.
- Adequate time is devoted to class and clinical activities and to
prepare for each of those to meet the stated objective (i.e., 3 hours per
credit hour).
- Academic integrity is demonstrated in each element of the student’s performance.
- Ethical behavior appropriate to the standards of a developing
professional is always maintained, particularly in relation to maintaining the confidentiality of
information regarding patients or clients.
- Each student maintains appropriate personal health status to accomplish
expectations of the program. Professional behavior – all students are expected
to exhibit consistent professional conduct in the classroom, lab, and clinic.
Disruptive behaviors include, but are not limited to, tardiness, leaving early,
offensive remarks, talking to others, cellular phone or electronic device use, and browsing social media.
Testing Policy
and Procedures
All testing policies apply in both
the didactic and clinical years. For additional Clinical Year Assessment
information refer to Section 4: End of Rotation Assessment Format.Exam Time:
Examinations will be administered per the
course schedule, published in the course syllabus. Students are expected to
take exams at the scheduled times. Exceptions may only be made in the case of a
valid excused absence.Exam Location:
You may not log in to the test from
another location unless instructed to do so by the course instructor or exam
proctor. You will need to discuss your absence with the instructor or your
advisor at the earliest opportunity.Absences:
If a student is unable to take the
examination at the designated time due to an excused absence (see the attendance policy), the student
must take the examination as soon as possible after the scheduled test date.
The instructor will coordinate the time and place for the student to complete
the requirement. A student who misses an examination due to an unexcused absence will report
immediately to their advisor or, if unavailable, the Director of Didactic Education. It
is at the discretion of the instructor in consultation with the Program Director to permit the student to take the examination
or receive a zero (0) for that examination. If the instructor allows the
student to take an examination at another time, the above guidelines apply. Unexcused absences resulting in zero points will be an “F” for that examination.Late arrival:
If you arrive late for a quiz or test,
you will not be allowed to take the test at that time and become a disruption
to the testing environment. Unexcused tardiness for an examination carries the
same penalty as unexcused absence. It is at the discretion of the examination
proctor to allow the student to take the examination due to unexcused
tardiness.The instructor/advisor may elect
to discuss your case with the Student Progress Committee (SPC) or Program Director to determine disposition. Outcomes may include: a grade of zero for
the test; or you may be allowed to take a make-up test later, at the instructor's discretion. The
maximum score on a makeup quiz or test is 70%.Testing Format:
Examinations will be given by computer
unless otherwise specified. Failure to bring a computer or malfunction of the
computer may result in a student not being allowed to take the exam. It will be
at the discretion of the instructor if the student will be allowed to take the
examination at a later time or if the student will receive a zero for that
examination. Availability of paper exam copies is at the discretion of the
instructor.- Students are responsible for
maintaining computer and software updates as recommended for optimum system
performance as per the following guidelines:
- Students are advised to have a power cable connected to their computer to avoid the risk of losing battery power
during the examination.
- Students must turn off all automatic updates for any and all programs (i.e. Windows, Adobe, Java,
etc…). If a computer initiates an automatic update and the student is “kicked
out” of the examination and is unable to log back in, the student will only
receive credit for the questions submitted.
- Computerized examinations may be given via multiple electronic formats
including Sakai, ExamSoft, and Exam Driver. Students must have their computers
appropriately updated with software prior to the exam. It is the
student’s responsibility to work with software support and have the latest, up-to-date version of all software and/or web browsers installed on their
computers and operational.
A privacy screen is required for
all computer examinations. Failure to bring a privacy screen may result in not
being allowed to take the examination. A paper version will be offered at the
discretion of the instructor.Dress Code
for Examinations:
During examinations, the
following dress code must be adhered to:- No hats
- No headbands or large accessories
- No watches or large jewelry
- Any clothing or accessories deemed a risk for academic integrity will be removed or the student asked to leave
Testing Environment:
Desks must be cleared of all
items except for the student’s computer, LAN cord, and mouse. This
includes all drinks, food, or other items. All personal belongings MUST be
put away in a locker prior to entering the room for an exam. Scratch paper may be provided by the examination
proctor at the discretion of the instructor.- There will be no bathroom breaks
during exams.
- Students must log in IMMEDIATELY
after receiving the exam code from the proctor.
- During the examination the proctor
may not answer questions related to the content of the examination.
- Earplugs and scratch paper may
be provided at the discretion of the instructor. No headphones are
allowed.
- Proctoring will be at the
discretion of the course director and may be administered by staff, faculty, or other proctoring services.
- Upon completion of the
examination, rise quietly, collect all testing materials, proceed to the
proctor for collection as applicable, and depart the room. Re-entry is not
allowed.
- Instructors may have additional
policies posted in the course syllabus related to the testing environment.
Timed Testing:
Tests are timed. Generally, time allowance
for questions is one minute per question, consistent with NCCPA PANCE testing
guidelines. Once a student begins an examination, the examination must be
completed within the allotted time and will be graded. Once time has expired
for the examination, the computerized testing program will automatically “force
submission.” Paper examinations will be collected by the examination proctor.Exam Scores and Grading:
Every effort will be made to
release the grades within three (3) business days after the administration of
the examination.Students may approach the primary
instructor with perceived grading discrepancies. The instructor will review an examination
with any student who desires to do so after grades have been released. The
student is expected to act in a professional manner when reviewing an
examination. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure accuracy of responses
on computer or paper answer sheets. Challenges to examination questions will be
accepted for 1 week after the return of scores. Challenges must be submitted in
writing via email with two written sources with at least one from recommended
course readings.Virtual Testing
- Remote proctoring services may be used during the didactic or clinical year and may include ExamMonitor, Monitor EDU, or Zoom. All exams are closed-book and the review sessions, if offered, are also closed-book. There are several acts of misconduct during an exam or review that could result in disciplinary action including dismissal from the program. So, please make sure that you strictly adhere to the following guidelines, the class syllabus, and the student handbook:
- Make sure that you orient yourself, as well as the camera so that you will be seen during the entire time you take the exam and review your answers. We need to see your entire face, not just eyebrows, forehead, or scalp. Make sure that you do not block the camera while taking the exam or during the review.
- Do not vocalize the questions and the responses out loud.
- Using any material (e.g. notebooks, sheets of paper) or equipment (besides the computer you use to take the exam; e.g. mobile phones*) is not allowed.
- Wearing headphones or earphones is not permitted during exams. If you need earplugs (to minimize distractions), they will be provided by the program.
- Recording, writing down, or taking pictures of exam questions during the exam or during the review that follows is not allowed.
- Any review following an exam, if offered, is also fully recorded. Treat the review like an exam.
- These rules apply to all closed-book exams that are administered through ExamSoft and ExamMonitor.
- *Monitor EDU and Zoom monitoring DOES require use of the students' phone to proctor the testing environment for the duration of the exam.
- Please do not discuss anything related to the exam with anyone while taking the exam or during the review.
- Tests are timed. Generally, time allowance for questions is one minute per question, consistent with NCCPA PANCE testing guidelines.
- If an immediate review is allowed, passwords for the review will be provided.
- As always, personal integrity is paramount.
PAEA
PACKRAT and End of Rotation Exams:
PAEA Assessments are used
during the program. During and after examinations, students are responsible for
the following:- Adhering to the PAEA Assessment academic integrity instructions and procedures as outlined.
- Adhering to the PAEA Assessment content security
instructions and procedures outlined.
- Abiding by all institutional and program academic
integrity policies and procedures as well as proctor instructions.
Prior to beginning any exam
through Secure Client, the student must agree to the terms and conditions as
posted on the exam.Information regarding the PAEA
Exam Honor Code and student responsibilities are available at https://paeaonline.org/assessment/assessment-resourcesAll students should read and be familiar with these policies prior to all PAEA
exams administered.
Section 4:
Academic Policies, Progression, and Graduation
Registration
Student must register for all
coursework prior to the start of each semester. Clerkship year students must
register for clerkship courses prior to start date of the first clerkship of
each semester. CRN numbers will be sent to students by the program staff prior
to registration dates.Tuition and fees are due at the
time of registration. For further information concerning registration
procedures, contact the Office of Admissions and Student Affairs at
(806)743-3220. Failure to register and pay all tuition and fees will result in
administrative dismissal from the program.
Academic
Advising
Upon enrollment, each student is
assigned a faculty advisor to assist in understanding and abiding by PA Program
policy and practice. Advisors must provide timely access for assistance and
counseling regarding academic, professional, or behavioral concerns or problems.Each student should meet with
his/her academic advisor as needed for academic or professional concerns. It is
advisable to meet with the academic advisor at the beginning of the program to
provide background information to your advisor to best help assist during the
program. Additional meetings with a student’s academic advisor will be
scheduled on an as-needed basis. If the student fails a written or practical
examination or other assessment, it is the student’s responsibility to meet
with the course instructor and academic advisor. Counseling sessions may be documented and placed in the student’s file.The student’s responsibilities as an advisee in the advising process
are:- To consider personal career goals so academic
and professional goals can be coordinated and discussed with advisor (or another faculty member) as appropriate.
- To be responsible for monitoring progress toward graduation and the requirements for certification and licensure.
- To understand the basic structure of the curriculum and its
requirements to ask
meaningful questions.
- To become familiar with the class schedule for each term to plan semester schedules.
- To attend pre-registration meetings or make appointments with an advisor for registration counseling.
- To be responsible for maintaining academic and
clinical performance in accordance
with University and Departmental requirements.
- Title IX: While maintaining HIPAA and FERPA confidentiality, students
are encouraged to notify the academic advisor or program director in the event of an illness, medical condition,
or family condition (Title IX) that could
potentially negatively impact the student’s ability to remain academically successful. Accommodations
will only be provided as recommended and approved through Disability Services.
The School of Health Professions
does not grade replace.
Academic
Standing Definition
To remain in good standing, a
student must meet the academic progression requirements of the PA program. If
the criteria for good standing is not met, the student will be considered “not in good standing” and will be placed on probation. It is the
responsibility of the student to know his/her academic status and progression
standards.
Semester Grade
Reports
Grade reports are posted on the TTUHSC
website each semester and can be accessed using the student’s eRaider account.
Credit By
Examination
Credit by examination is not
offered for courses in the PA program.
Academic
Progression Standards
To progress in and graduate from
the PA Program, a student must successfully:- Maintain a semester and cumulative GPA of 2.8
- Earn a grade of “C” or higher or “P” in all courses
- Satisfactorily complete the didactic curriculum coursework to progress to the clinical year
- Satisfactorily complete all requirements of the
clinical curriculum, including courses and
summative examination requirements
- Maintain satisfactory Professional Development
Evaluations and adhere to all program, school, and institutional policies
Any student who does not
satisfactorily meet the preceding standards will be referred to the Student
Progression Committee (SPC), which will evaluate the student's academic and professional performance and
make recommendations to the Program Director, which may include Academic Warning, Probation, Remediation, or Dismissal from the program.
Adverse Actions (Academic Warning, Probation,
Remediation, Dismissal)
In accordance with TTUHSC School
of Health Professions Policy and the Standards established by the Accreditation
Review Commission for the Education of Physician Assistants (ARC-PA), the PA
Program recognizes certain didactic coursework and clerkships as fundamental
for competency in clinical practice. Students who do not successfully complete
all the requirements of a didactic course or clinical clerkship as listed in
this handbook under Academic Progression
Standards, are subject to Academic
Dismissal in compliance with SHP Policy.Academic Warning (Students at Academic Risk)
The course instructor, faculty member, or Program Director will identify the student at risk for failing based on course performance or other academic, behavioral, or professional concerns. An academic warning is a written notification provided to students because of unsatisfactory cognitive or non-cognitive performance. The academic warning is not part of the student's permanent University transcript.Mid semester warning for at-risk students per SHP policy.In addition, Academic Warnings occur in, but are not limited to, the following:- Behavioral or Professionalism Concerns
Students who repeat, or fail to correct, the deficiency noted in the Academic Warning or continue a pattern of unsatisfactory academic performance will be referred to the SPC for review and recommendation to include further remediation and/or academic probation, or dismissal.Remediation
Students identified at academic or professionalism risk may be required to remediate as described below.Failure to Meet Standards: CognitiveStudent initiates meeting with their advisor.
Student given cognitive self-assessment to determine causation by advisor.
Student to be given self-directed learning plan form by advisor and resubmit a completed plan to advisor. Remediation efforts to be discussed with advisor. Advisor, course director, and preceptor have the option of referral for further resources as needed.
For test failures, student to be retested on failed material, per syllabus policy.
If re-test is failed, student will fail the course.
All students presenting for remediation, whether cognitive or noncognitive, will be given a listing of institutional and community wellness resources.
First Course FailureStudent will be recommended by the course director to the Program Director to be placed on academic probation as defined in the program's student handbook policy.
Student will be offered to take the failed course again at the course's next offering.
Academic probation may affect clinical assignments in the clinical year.
Second Course FailureStudent will be referred to the SPC.
The SPC will evaluate the student's performance and their entire academic and professional record. The SPC will make recommendations to the program director up to including dismissal.
Clinical Year End of Rotation Examination FailuresConcerning all end of rotation examination failures, at any point in the clinical curriculum, and regardless of previous successful remediation status:- The first end of rotation examination attempt resulting in failure will require remediation of the examination.
- The second end of rotation examination attempt resulting in failure, the student will be placed on academic probation. If the failure results in a failed course, the student will need to re-take the course. If the second failure results from a different EOR exam discipline, the student will still be required to successfully remediate the failed examination.
- The third end of rotation examination failure results in automatic failure of the course and referral to the SPC for dismissal from the program.
- All other academic progression standards also apply.
Failure to Meet Standards: NoncognitiveAdvisor will initiate meeting with student.
Student given noncognitive interview to determine causation by advisor.
Student to be given self-directed learning plan form by advisor and to resubmit a completed plan to advisor. Student's remediation efforts will be discussed with their advisor and applicable parties, which could include course director or preceptor, who have the option of referral for further resources as needed.
For a subsequent noncognitive issue, student will be given a noncognitive warning letter with stipulations included. Failure to comply with the noncognitive warning letter's stipulations will result in the student being referred to the SPC. SPC will review the student's entire academic and professionalism records from matriculation and make recommendations to the program director, up to and including dismissal.
All students presenting for remediation, whether cognitive or noncognitive, will be given a listing of institutional and community wellness resources.
Remediation plans may include:- A one-time opportunity to repeat the failed course during the following semester by independent study (if instruction is available).
- A one-time opportunity to repeat the course(s) at the next available offering, which may be the next year (recycle). If the course is a clerkship course, the next opportunity will be subject to scheduling and preceptor availability which will delay graduation.
- Required student advisement and/or evaluation.
- Additional required study in a specific subject.
- Additional required testing to demonstrate acquisition of learning outcomes. Maximum score on re-test is a 70%.
A maximum of two courses may be remediated during the didactic curriculum.A maximum of one clerkship course may be remediated during the clinical curriculum.A maximum of one re-take may be offered for either portion of the Program Summative Examination.
Behavioral or Professionalism Concerns- A student identified with behavioral or professionalism concerns will have documented behavioral counseling with the academic advisor and/or program director.
If the agreed-upon remediation efforts are unsuccessful, or a student has multiple academic concerns, the student may be referred to the SPC for additional review and recommendations to be forwarded to the Program Director. A remediation plan in conjunction with probation or an academic warning must be completed within the time frame designated and presented within the letter.Academic Probation
Academic Probation is a designation for students who fail to demonstrate satisfactory academic improvement after an academic warning. Students receiving Academic Probation will meet with their faculty advisor or academic director to develop a plan for improvement. Academic Probation is recorded on the student's permanent University transcript and must be reported to the Texas Medical Board (TMB) upon graduation.Academic Probation occurs in, but is not limited to, the following:- Failure to successfully remediate any clinical end-of-rotation examination
- Failure to successfully remediate any course examination
- Failure to successfully remediate any skills assessment
- Failure to correct any academic deficiencies identified on a previous Academic Warning
- Failure to maintain a semester and cumulative GPA of 2.8
Students may be placed on academic
probation for a maximum of one semester during the PA program (including both
the didactic and clinical phases of training). If a student meets condition for academic probation a second time, this will result in dismissal from the program.Students will be notified they are
being placed on academic probation in accordance with the SHP Academic Probation
Policy.A student on probation is considered "not in good standing" per university standards and may have
difficulty being placed in clerkship course sites based on clinical site
affiliation agreements. This may limit
the ability of the program to schedule clerkship
course sites and delay a student’s graduation.A student on academic probation
may not hold elected or student leadership positions in the student society.To return to good standing following placement on Academic Probation, students must correct the identified academic deficiencies during the probationary semester and prove competence in the deficiency(ies) which triggered Academic Probation by successful completion of the improvement plan recommended by the SPC.Students on Academic Probation will not transition from the didactic to the clinical phase or from the clinical phase to graduation until all the conditions of Academic Progression Standards have been met.Dismissal
A student may be dismissed from the PA program if:- The student acts in a manner detrimental to the safety or well-being of
a client, patient, another student, or faculty.
- Violation of the academic and non-academic policies of, TTUHSC, the
SHP, or the PA Program.
- The student does not maintain minimum academic
performance standards of the PA program.
- The student receives a failing grade on any professionalism evaluation in the Professional Development series of courses.
- The student fails three total End of Rotation examination attempts.
- The student does not meet the provisions of academic probation.
- The student meets criteria for academic probation a second time during the program.
In the event of a student offense for which dismissal is warranted, the Program Director will be notified. The Program Director will call a meeting of the SPC who are tasked with reviewing the case. The SPC may make a recommendation for the student's dismissal and forward it to the Program Director.Dismissal will occur in
compliance with the SHP Academic Dismissal policy.Students may appeal the program dismissal as outlined in the Student Grievance Policy.DecelerationDeceleration is the loss of a student from their current cohort, who remains matriculated in the program.1. Non-cognitive deceleration (Leave of Absence)a. In extreme circumstances it may be necessary for a student to be absent from class for an extended time. The Program Director may grant a leave with the approval of the Department Chair and the consent of the Dean.b. For information concerning a leave of absence, contact the School of Health Professions Office of Admissions and Student Affairs, shp.studentaffairs@ttuhsc.edu.2. Cognitive deceleration (recycle): Didactice-Phasea. A student not meeting the academic progression standards during the didactic phase of the program will be placed on Academic Probation and, if recommended by the SPC, may be allowed to decelerate and repeat the course.b. If it is determined if remediation is possible, the student will enroll in the repeat course the next time it is offered and must be able to meet standards upon completion.c. Students are responsible for any additional tuition and fees caused by the failure and repeating of a didactic course.d. The student must pass the repeat course with a minimum grade of "C" or higher and maintain a semester GPA of 2.8 or above; otherwise, the student may be subject to dismissal from the program. Cumulative GPA requirements for the semester on probation do not apply.e. Repeating a course does not replace the original grade on your transcript. For calculating GPA, the grade obtained when a course is retaken is averaged with previous grades.3. Cognitive deceleration (recycle): Clinical Phasea. A student who fails a clinical rotation will be placed on Academic Probation and, if recommended by the SPC, may be allowed to decelerate and repeat the rotation.b. The student would make up the failed clinical rotation at a time convenient for the program and preceptor(s) as determined by the Director of Clinical Education (DOCE) and clinical team.c. Students are responsible for any additional tuition and fees caused by the failure and repeating of a clinical rotation.d. The student must pass the repeat rotation/course with a minimum grade of "C" or higher and maintain a semester GPA of 2.8 or above; otherwise, the student may be subject to dismissal from the program.e. Repeating a course does not replace the original grade on your transcript. For calculating GPA, the grade obtained when a course is retaken is averaged with previous grades.f. Deceleration during the clinical phase of the program will delay student graduation. Degree Completion Deadline
All requirements for the MPAS program must be completed within a period of 51 consecutive months from the time of matriculation.
Curriculum
Graduation Requirements
At the end of the PA program
professional curriculum, each student record will be reviewed by the faculty
and Program Director to determine if the student has satisfactorily completed
and achieved the standards and requirements of the PA program and each course.
If the student has met all requirements for completion of the professional
curriculum, he/she is then recommended for graduation from the PA program. The
Program Director submits these names to the Department Chair for approval and
forwards to the Dean, SHP, and the TTUHSC Registrar for graduation and the
granting of a degree.Graduation under a Particular Catalog
A student is expected to complete
the degree requirements set forth in a particular School of Health Professions
SHP catalog. This will be the catalog in effect at the time the student enters
the program. Its provisions are applicable during the following school year,
September through August. However, a student who registers for the first time,
or is re-admitted during a summer session is subject to the degree requirements
set forth in the catalog effective for the fall semester immediately following
the initial enrollment. A catalog issued
later than the student’s first registration may
be selected by the Chairperson in conference with the students.PACKRAT Examinations
The PACKRAT is an assessment tool
that is administered to help the student evaluate their academic progress and
Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) preparation needs.
Completion of the PACKRAT is a required component of the clinical year. The
PACKRAT will be administered at the end of the didactic year and during the
final phases of the clinical year. Students performing below the defined benchmark on the PACKRAT exams may be required to complete additional study.Summative Clinical Skills
Practical and Written Examination
Prior to completion of the
clinical year, a summative evaluation consisting of a summative written and
clinical skills evaluation will be administered. These exams are part of HPPA
6196 Professional Development V. Passage of both the summative clinical skills
practicum and the summative written examination are required components for
successful completion of the program.Both the clinical skills practicum
and the written summative examination will be administered within the last four
(4) months of the clinical year.Failure to pass either the
clinical skills practicum or the written summative examination after two
attempts will result in recommendation for dismissal.Convocation and Commencement
The SHP convocation and
commencement ceremony are held in Lubbock, Texas on the campus of Texas Tech
University. Although the PA students take part in this ceremony held during
May, they do not officially graduate or receive their diplomas until the
following August. Each student is highly encouraged to attend the ceremony.
Graduation regalia is paid for by the student at the time of order.Certification and Licensure
Students who complete the graduate
program in PA studies will meet the academic and clinical requirements for
certification by the NCCPA and state licensure. The Program Director or designee verifies
satisfactory completion of academic course and performance evaluation while in the program.NCCPA Certification:
The program will forward eligibility to
the NCCPA for PANCE examination on their diploma date. Students are permitted to take the exam 7 days
after official diploma as defined on the published SHP academic calendar.State Licensure:
All transactions with state
licensure boards are strictly the student’s responsibility. The
program director will provide appropriate paperwork, upon request, to forward
to the state board. Contents of the student file including official student advising/counseling documentation, professionalism evaluations, academic progression communications, clerkship evaluations, official disciplinary records, and overall academic performance will be reported.Credentialing and privileges requests:
Should be directed to
admin.paprogram@ttuhsc.edu. Requests will be completed within 10
business days. Please allow additional time for requests for malpractice
insurance coverage or claims.
Section 5: Clerkship
Specific Policies
General
Information
After successfully completing the
didactic phase of PA training, students will transition to the clinical year.
This time is known as the Supervised Clinical Practical Experience (SCPE).Rotation length and requirements:
The SCPE occurs during eight clinical clerkship courses, each approximately 6 weeks. The
current disciplines consist of the following: Family Medicine, Pediatrics,
Internal Medicine, Psychiatry, Surgery, Emergency Medicine, Prenatal
Care & Gynecology, and one selective clerkship course. Students are
expected to be actively engaged in taking responsibility for their education by
mastering the knowledge objectives outlined in each clerkship course syllabi.Didactic lectures, Rounds, and other academic opportunities:Students are required to attend all learning activities of the rotation. In
many hospitals and academic sites, this will include didactic lectures offered
to all medical learners (including medical students and residents), participate
in daily rounds, Grand Rounds, and other conferences.General Duties and Tasks:
PA students are educated in required clinical skills and procedures before entry into the supervised clinical
experience. Clinical clerkship courses enable PA students to sharpen their
primary care skills and learn the art of medical practice.The primary goal is for the
student to gain practical experience, develop skills as a healthcare practitioner,
and learn the roles of other members of the healthcare team. The supervised
clinical experience also emphasizes the dependent role of the PA and the
Physician-PA Team concept.Professional
Liability
All clinical facilities require
students have professional liability insurance. Professional liability
insurance is provided by the SHP, and information regarding provision of
liability insurance is described in the affiliation agreement between TTUHSC
and the facility. All questions regarding professional liability insurance
addressed to the students should be referred to the Clerkship Coordinator.
Students are covered by this liability insurance only while they are in a
clinical setting, laboratory, or classroom approved by the TTUHSC PA Program
administration.The SHP provides professional
liability coverage for students that work or study in a clinical environment
with limits of $1,000,000/$3,000,000. This coverage only applies to activities
that are part of and a requirement of students’ curriculum.
Clerkship Region
Assignments
Clinical Regions:
Students will be assigned a clinical
region at the discretion of the faculty during the Spring semester of the
didactic year. The TTUHSC PA program has established regions based around
TTUHSC campuses in Amarillo, Lubbock, Permian Basin, Abilene, and El Paso.Assignment Process: The assignment process is coordinated by
the Director of Clinical Education and the assignments
are approved by the Clinical Faculty Team. The number of students per region is
determined yearly based on sufficiency and availability of clinical sites. The
following criteria may be considered in the selection process: Academic
standing and performance, GPA, Professionalism, Professional Service,
indicators of future practice in populations similar to regional assignments.
Clerkship region assignments are final. Placement to top choices is not guaranteed, however, the program has had placement in 1st or 2nd choice at a minimum rate of 84% over the last 5 years.Travel Requirements Outside of Home Region:
Students are not
guaranteed all clerkship course sites will be located within their assigned
region. Students may be required to move between regions or outside of the
TTUHSC regions based on site/preceptor availability in specific disciplines or
for other unexpected situations. Students will be responsible for all travel
expenses during the clinical year.
Clinical Site
Scheduling
Solicitation and scheduling of sites/preceptors:
All
clinical sites are solicited, and schedules are assigned by the faculty of the
TTUHSC PA program Clinical Team. The program faculty will review, evaluate, and
approve all preceptorships for the suitability of the program. All clinical
clerkship courses are scheduled by the Student Training Education and Placement System utilized by EXXAT. Students will have input into their experience placements
through submission of preferences.Student solicitation of site strictly prohibited:
Students
may not contact providers or preceptors to seek or schedule clinical clerkship
course experiences. Students may suggest sites and preceptors to the Clerkship
Coordinator, but all communications with preceptors for the purposes of
scheduling and affiliation will be done by program faculty and staff.Rotation rescheduling:
Please note that occasionally, the
situation may arise with little notice that a preceptor is unable to fulfill
the scheduled clinical experience.This may result in rescheduling
with another preceptor, relocation of a student to another region, or limited
activities while affiliation agreements or contracts are in process. Students
must remain flexible when unexpected situations arise. In this case, the
student has two choices:- Accept the rotation assignment provided by the
clinical team to replace the original rotation - the Clinical Team will make
every effort to secure a clinical rotation site/preceptor for the student. The
student may not find their own rotation.
- Not accept the rotation selection from the clinical team - the student may suggest alternative rotation sites/preceptors to the
team. By choosing this option, the student agrees that if another rotation
cannot be arranged, the student may be required to extend their program,
delaying graduation.
Student
Requirements for Clinical Sites
Contacting
preceptors/sites:
Students must contact their
next supervising clinical preceptor a minimum of four (4) weeks prior to the start of each supervised clinical
experience.Onboarding and orientation requirements:
In addition to
contacting the clinical preceptor, students are required to contact any
facility in which training will also occur in and complete all onboarding requirements prior
to arrival. The Clinical Team will be able to answer questions or
concerns regarding the policies and requirements for specific clinical sites. Students
must comply with any facility-required background checks, health screenings,
drug screening, or other requirements.Failure to
contact clinical sites or complete requirements may result in a delay in
clerkship. This will delay a student’s graduation pending completion of the
clerkship course. It is the responsibility of the student to notify and
complete any necessary paperwork required for each supervised clinical
experience.
BLS, ACLS, and PALS Certification
Students will be required to
complete BLS, ACLS, and PALS certification as a part of didactic training and
maintain certification through program graduation. Students who fail to
complete these certifications during scheduled times will be required to do at
their own expense prior to deadlines defined by the Clinical Team during the
didactic year.
Blood and Bodily
Fluid Exposures
Report any blood or body fluid exposures (i.e.
needle sticks) to Nicole Hines, RN, your assigned Clinical Coordinator,
supervising physician, hospital employee health, your clinical coordinator
immediately, and Infection Control Managing Director. See Blood & Body Fluid
Exposure Plan. (Please be advised that
there are clinical situations where you might be exposed to toxins that could
be harmful, particularly in the case of pregnancy: Example: bone cement while on
surgery rotation. We encourage you to be aware of this and notify your faculty
advisor so that appropriate measures can be taken.)https://hscweb.ttuhsc.edu/health-professions/documents/current/Blood-Borne-Pathogen-Policy_Feb2018.pdf
Responsibility of the Student Post-Exposure
Students in training at clinics or hospitals are not employees of the clinics or hospitals. Nor are they employees of TTUHSC. The student shall pay for any and all evaluation and treatment costs related to a blood-borne pathogen exposure required by TTUHSC Institutional Health. The student shall be responsible for the cost of any necessary re-test or subsequent tests required by TTUHSC Institutional Health. Students are prohibited from filing a claim with workers compensation or employee health.
Expectations of Clerkship Students
Timely
Communication during Clerkships
The following should be used to
direct communications appropriate during clerkship experiences:| Issue | Timeliness
of Communication | Contact Person |
| Emergency | 24/7 | 432-620-1135 |
| Urgent rotation concerns during business hours | During normal business hours, as soon as possible | Clerkship Coordinator or DOCE, by
email or phone |
| Non-urgent rotation concerns | During normal business hours | Clinicalteam.paprogram@ttuhsc.edu
|
| Absence due to illness or emergency | During normal business
hours, as soon as possible | First, notify the preceptor
and then your Faculty Advisor and Clinicalteam.paprogram@ttuhsc.edu |
| Preceptor illness or
vacation | During normal business hours, as soon as possible | Clinicalteam.paprogram@ttuhsc.edu
|
| Blood or Bodily Fluid
Exposure | Seek medical care
urgently, contact preceptor. Contact Office of Institutional Health as soon as possible during business hours | Seek medical care and
contact Nicole Hines, Office of Institutional Health |
| Change of address or contact information | Within 5 business days | PA Program Business
Coordinator and Registrar’s Office |
Identification
during Clinical Experiences
Name tags and Badges:
A name tag identifying the student as
a Physician Assistant Student MUST be worn at all times during the clinical
experience. If a specific site requires additional identification, it is the
responsibility of the student to comply. It is the student’s responsibility to
complete paperwork necessary to obtain required badges and return badges to the
site prior to departure.Greeting Patients and Student Identification Requirements:
Students are required to identify
themselves to patients by their name and by TTUHSC student status. The student
must explain to patients their working relationship with the preceptor.Signing charts:
When a student signs a chart, they must
identify their student status, ex. PA-S2. Any official paperwork or chart must
be co-signed by the preceptor.
Student
Supervision
Students must have supervision at all times by their preceptor who is a licensed provider. Student may only
rotate with approved preceptors. Under no circumstances should a PA student be
permitted to practice independent of direct supervision.Accept only tasks for which the student has been
properly trained and perform procedures
only under the direct supervision of the preceptor or designated secondary
preceptor within the practice.Under no circumstances should a PA
student be used as an employee of the practice or represented to patients as
such. Students should not be used as clerical staff, medical scribes, or
research assistants.
Clerkship
Attendance Policies
Attendance:
Students are required to attend clinic at
scheduled times and work the hours set forth by their designated preceptor
(minimum of 8 hours/day, 40 hours per week). This is required throughout the
entire length of the clinical rotation experience. While on clinical rotations, students will be
“on duty” at the discretion of their supervising preceptor; it is not limited
to the 8:00 am – 5:00 pm schedule.This includes the potential of
working weekends, holidays, and on-call hours. To successfully complete
the professional curriculum on time, rotations must be started and completed as
scheduled. Requests for time off (arriving late, leaving early, personal days,
appointments, etc.) must be pre-approved by the Faculty Advisor prior to seeking approval from the preceptor.Emergency Related Closures for students on clinical placements statement
Students on preceptorship or clinical placements are to follow the policies of their affiliate or clinical site regarding emergency-related closures. Suspension of classes or office closures on a TTUHSC campus does not supersede the policies of the affiliate or clinical site.Clinical Absences:
Any illnesses or absences must be reported to their assigned academic
advisor and Clerkship Coordinator immediately. All missed clinical hours
must be recovered on an hour for hour basis. Missed clinical hours may be
recovered during the rotation if time allows or at other times as approved by the DOCE through the Clinical
Coordinator. If a student misses clinical time during the clerkship, the
student will be required to maintain a time log to be co-signed by the
supervising clinical preceptor. This
will be used by their Clinical Coordinator to evaluate the need for additional
clinical time in that area.Excused
Absences and Personal Days:
All anticipated absences
must be pre-approved by the Faculty Advisor prior
to requesting the absence from the Preceptor. Absence approval will be
considered on a case-by-case basis.See attendance policy in section
2
Requirements of
All Clerkship Courses
Mid-rotation Evaluations:
Students are required to submit a
mid-rotation evaluation form to the Clerkship Coordinator by Wednesday during
week 3 by 5:00 PM CST for each
supervised clinical experience. If a student is unable to submit the
Mid-Rotation Evaluation Form by the specified deadline, they are required to
notify the Clinical Team prior to the deadline. If there are any problems, contact the Clinical Team or Clinical Site Coordinator ASAP for assistance.Failure to submit the
Mid-Rotation Evaluation Forms as specified above may result in loss points on
the professionalism grade and may be grounds for repeating the clerkship
course.Patient and Procedure Logs:
The PA program utilizes EXXAT (https://exxat.com/),
which is a web-based program designed for students participating in supervised clinical experiences. The system is designed to capture age,
diagnosis, type of setting, and level of complexity as well as procedures. The
system does not capture protected health information and no attempt should be
made to include such data.Instructions for usage of this
system will be given at the pre-clinical orientation training.Completion:
Patient
logging is expected to occur every day of the clerkship.
Patient logs must be completed no later than 5:00 PM on the Wednesday during
the last week of the clerkship course. On the last day of the clerkship, the
patient log will be reviewed by the Clinical Team. Students who fail to log patient contacts may be subject to a reduction in their Professionalism
grade or to repeat the clerkship as determined by the student progress
committee.Patient Logs:
During
the supervised clinical experience, students are required to document each
patient encounter just as a practicing clinician would do. A patient encounter
includes any patient who was either observed or the student
assisted in care, regardless of the patient’s age. While each
clerkship course is different in terms of types of patient encounters, every
patient should be logged. This is not only a requirement for successful
completion of the clerkship course but this log may also assist you after
graduation with employment and credentialing paperwork required for clinics and
hospitals.Each supervised clinical
experience has varying patient volume loads familiar to the Clinical Team. The Clinical Team will monitor for the
expected volume of patients that should be seen during the specified clerkship.
The student is responsible for ensuring they are meeting the requirements for
the number of patient logging contacts.Procedure Logs:
The
procedure log is a mandatory component of
the supervised clinical experience. Completion of the REQUIRED procedures is a
requirement of successful completion of the program. The procedures are available in the clinical year passport.Completion of Clinical Passport is required.
The Clinical Passport is required by the end of the clinical year. In order to complete each clinical skills requirement (History, Physical Exam, and Procedural), the preceptor must sign off that the student is "able to perform skill with minimum supervision" or is "capable of performing this skill independently." Information on how to document
the REQUIRED skills and utilization of the EXXAT system will be given at the
pre-clinical year orientation.
Appendix 1: Rights and
Responsibilities of Program Faculty
Faculty members of the PA program
have specific responsibilities assigned to them daily. 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 members’ position is advising. Each faculty member counsels students on
topics such as career opportunities, research, comprehensive examinations, postgraduate 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 grades by the student’s names is
strictly forbidden by federal law. Grades may be posted by personal test number
or some other method that 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 as 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 echocardiograms, 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 Americans 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: Impairment Policy
Impairment: A PA student who demonstrates behavior that interferes with normally expected performance and/or who shows signs of impairment may be placed on leave by the Student Progression Committee (SPC) pending evaluation and recommended treatment. Such behavior may be associated with, but not limited to, the following:- Demonstrated ineffectiveness in handling areas of school and/or outside personal problems.
- Psychoactive substance abuse or dependence.
- A physical illness with pathophysiological and/or psychological manifestations.
- Self-reporting by consulting with a faculty member.
- Concern expressed to any faculty member, preceptor, administrator, or another student.
In these cases, the student must be evaluated by a licensed healthcare provider agreed upon by the student and program director. The student must sign a release form approving release of all diagnosis and treatment information to the program director. If treatment is recommended, the student must, within reasonable time, and in no later than two weeks from the date of evaluation, begin the advised therapy and continue it as directed. At the end of the projected treatment period, or the time frame set forth by the treating provider, the provider must report to the program director with one of the following; a) that treatment has been completed successfullyb) further treatment is required and likely to produce a favorable outcomec) treatment is unsuccessful The student may be allowed a leave of absence for a maximum time of one year. If the program director determines that evaluation, treatment and/or monitoring are warranted, and the student does not responsibly cooperate or respond, the SPC may recommend suspension or dismissal.
Appendix 6: Midland College Map
