In the clinical phase of the PA Program, students are assigned into a series of supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPE) in a variety of settings on a rotating schedule. The supervised clinical practice experiences are divided into 8 periods of approximately 6 weeks each. Required 6-week experiences include Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Emergency Medicine, and General Surgery. Experiences in Women’s Health, Pediatrics, and Behavioral Health are required 3-week experiences that may be integrated throughout the clinical experiences. Elective rotations are available in a variety of clinical practice areas, pending preceptor/site availability and prior rotation experience. Electives can be in a new discipline or an augmentation of a required discipline. Students are to average 45 hours a week at the clinical experiences. The Program reserves the right to assign rotations or supplemental activities to ensure that students meet all Program requirements for the supervised clinical practice experiences.
Family Medicine Clinical Experience
In this required 6-week clinical experience, under the supervision of a family medicine preceptor, PA students will apply the attitudes, knowledge, and skills developed during the didactic phase to evaluate and manage patients in family medicine settings. Students will gain experience performing appropriate health histories and physical examinations and ordering and interpreting laboratory and other diagnostic tests to formulate diagnoses and effective treatment plans. Health promotion, disease prevention, and patient education, for a diverse population over the lifespan are incorporated into the care of acute and chronic diseases.
Internal Medicine Clinical Experience
In this required 6-week clinical experience, under the supervision of an internal medicine preceptor, PA students will apply the attitudes, knowledge, and skills developed during the didactic phase to evaluate and manage adult and geriatric patients in a hospital setting or internal medicine office. Students will gain experience performing appropriate health histories and physical examinations and ordering and interpreting laboratory and other diagnostic tests to formulate diagnoses and effective treatment plans. Health promotion, disease prevention, and patient education, for a diverse population are incorporated into the care of acute and chronic diseases.
Emergency Medicine Clinical Experience
In this required 6-week clinical experience, under the supervision of an emergency medicine preceptor, PA students will apply the attitudes, knowledge, and skills developed during the didactic phase to evaluate and manage patients presenting to Emergency Department and urgent care settings with urgent, emergent, and life-threatening conditions. Students are expected to appropriately triage and stabilize patients, interact properly with patients’ families, perform rapid and accurate health histories and physical examinations, order laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies to assist in formulating diagnoses and treatment plans, and make appropriate referrals. Health promotion, disease prevention, and patient education are incorporated into the care of patients with acute conditions and acute exacerbations of chronic conditions, for a diverse population over the lifespan.
General Surgery/Surgery Clinical Experience
In this required 6-week clinical rotation, under the supervision of a surgical preceptor, PA students will apply the attitudes, knowledge, and skills developed during the didactic phase to evaluate and manage patients with common acute, non-emergent, and elective surgical disorders. Students will gain experience performing appropriate health histories and physical examinations and ordering and interpreting laboratory and other diagnostic tests to identify indications, contraindications, and potential complications for surgery to determine if the patient is a surgical candidate. Students will participate in pre-operative, intra-operative (assist in surgery), and post-operative care. Health promotion, disease prevention, and patient education, for a diverse population over the lifespan, are incorporated into the care of the surgical patient.
Women’s Health Clinical Experience
In this 3-week equivalent required clinical experience, under the supervision of a women’s health preceptor, PA students will apply the attitudes, knowledge, and skills developed during the didactic phase to evaluate and manage women’s health patients with gynecological and reproductive issues and prenatal care. Students will gain experience performing appropriate health histories and physical examinations and ordering and interpreting laboratory and other diagnostic tests to formulate diagnoses and effective treatment plans for women. There is a potential for exposure to surgical techniques and surgical assisting. Health promotion, disease prevention, and patient education are incorporated into women’s health care, for a diverse population.
Pediatrics Clinical Experience
In this 3-week equivalent required clinical experience, under the supervision of a pediatric preceptor, PA students will apply the attitudes, knowledge, and skills developed during the didactic phase to evaluate and manage neonates, infants, children, and adolescents. Students will gain experience assessing patients for normal growth and development, perform appropriate health histories and physical examinations, and order laboratory tests and other diagnostic studies to assist in formulating diagnoses and treatments for acute and chronic illnesses in children and adolescents. Patient and parent/guardian education, disease prevention, and health promotion (including immunizations) are incorporated into the care of the pediatric patient.
Behavioral Health Clinical Experience
In this 3-week equivalent required clinical experience, under the supervision of a behavioral medicine preceptor, PA students will apply the attitudes, knowledge, and skills developed during the didactic phase to evaluate and manage patients with behavioral health or psychiatric disorders. Students will gain experience performing appropriate health histories, physical examinations, and psychiatric assessments and ordering and interpreting laboratory and other diagnostic tests to formulate diagnoses and effective treatment plans. Health promotion, disease prevention, and patient education are incorporated into the care of patients with a psychiatric or behavioral health condition, for a diverse population over the lifespan.
6 HOURS (0-0-6); The SCPEs are competency based with Pass/Fail grading.