Academic Catalog 2016-2018

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Physician Assistant Studies (MS)

Dominican University of California offers a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies for students starting at the graduate level.

The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Provisional status to the Dominican University of California Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Dominican University of California. Accreditation-Provisional is an accreditation status granted when the plans and resource allocation, if fully implemented as planned, of a proposed program that has not yet enrolled students appear to demonstrate the program’s ability to meet the ARC-PA Standards or when a program holding Accreditation-Provisional status appears to demonstrate continued progress in complying with the Standards as it prepares for the graduation of the first class (cohort) of students. Accreditation-Provisional does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class.

A Physician Assistant is a nationally certified and state-licensed medical professional. PAs practice medicine on healthcare teams with physicians and other providers. They practice and prescribe medication in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, the majority of the U.S. territories and the uniformed services.

PAs are experts in general medicine; they diagnose, treat and prescribe medicine. Thanks to an education modeled on the medical school curriculum, PAs learn to make life saving diagnostic and therapeutic decisions while working autonomously or in collaboration with other members of the healthcare team. PAs are certified as medical generalists with a foundation in primary care. Over the course of their careers, many PAs practice in two or three specialty areas, giving them deep experience and the flexibility to meet the changing needs of their patients, employers and communities.

Physician Assistant Studies (MS) Curriculum Themes and Design

Curricular Themes

The following curricular themes articulate our beliefs about physician assistant medical practice and shapes the focus of our curriculum:

  1. The clinical role of PAs includes primary and specialty care in medical and surgical practice settings.
  2. Professional competencies for physician assistants include the effective and appropriate application of:
    • Medical knowledge
    • Interpersonal and communication skills
    • Patient-centered care
    • Professionalism
    • Practice-based learning and improvement
    • Systems-based practice
  3. Patient-centered, physician assistant practice reflects a number of overarching themes. These include an unwavering commitment to patient safety, cultural competence, quality healthcare, lifelong learning, and professional growth. Furthermore, the profession’s dedication to the physician-physician assistant team benefits patients and the larger community.

Curriculum Design

The curriculum is 28 months divided into three phases over seven consecutive semesters.

  • Phase I - Didactic (15 months) on campus
  • Phase II - Clinical (~12 months) at sites throughout California and surrounding states
  • Phase III - Summative Session (~1 month)

Phase I—Didactic (15 months - 61 semester units)

The didactic curriculum is organized into four semesters:

  • Foundations
  • Clinical Medicine Modules
  • Pre-Clinical

The Foundations courses in semester one are individual courses that are essential in preparing the PA student to embark on a career as a healthcare professional as well as preparation in the basic sciences to begin the systems-based study of clinical medicine.

The Clinical Medicine Modules in semester two, three, and four are designed to allow for a comprehensive and integrated approach to learning medicine by organ system. Each clinical medicine system block contains anatomy, physiology, pathophysiology, clinical skills, laboratory studies, study of disease states, pharmacology, behavioral medicine, preventive medicine, and evidence based healthcare. The classes are a combination of traditional lectures, web-based learning modules and active learning through cases, clinical skills development, role playing, simulation, and team-based problem solving.

Students take an individual exam for each system. If a student does not pass the first, individual assessment, there is one opportunity to further learn the medical information and retest.

The Clinical Medicine (CM) module series is a comprehensive and integrated approach to learning medicine by organ systems. There is a strong emphasis on critical thinking, problem solving, case-based learning and evidence based clinical practice. Clinical medicine modules will include:

  • Advanced study of human anatomy with laboratory sessions on the Anatomage Table
  • Advanced study of human physiology with clinical applications
  • Study of the etiology and pathophysiology of disease states
  • Performance of history and physical examinations with attention to charting and developing a differential diagnosis. Practice on other students and participation at local clinics.
  • Overview of the selection, use, and interpretation of results of laboratory and diagnostic studies
  • Study of disease states including the epidemiology, history, physical examination, diagnostic evaluation, differential diagnosis, management, and prognosis
  • Recognition of behavioral medicine issues on disease states commonly seen in the medical setting
  • Pharmacological principles of routes of administration, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and toxicology, drug classes, disease management, use in patient types
  • Identification and initiation of treatment for emergencies
  • Comparison of the clinical presentation and management of disease states in the pediatric and geriatric population vs. the general adult population
  • Preventive healthcare, patient education, and health maintenance recommendations
  • Application of the principles of evidence-based clinical practice
  • Objective evaluation of interviewing and history taking skills utilizing the Leicester Assessment Package (LAP)

Pre-Clinical courses occur in semester four. These courses have been developed to prepare the PA student for executing clinical practice skills. They are also designed to prepare PA students to work together in interprofessional teams.

Phase II–Clinical Rotations/Call-Back Weeks

Over the ~12 months the student will participate in the 9 clinical rotations, 5 weeks in length. These courses (as follows) do not have to be taken in any certain order. Students will participate but will not be responsible for determining their clinical sites and internship experiences. Internships must be coordinated with the Program Director and Clinical Coordinator. Students may not initiate their own clinical internships.

  • Primary Care (4 rotations) Includes: OB/GYN, Pediatrics, Family Medicine, Behavioral Medicine & Internal Medicine
  • Inpatient Medicine
  • Surgery
  • Emergency Medicine
  • Elective
  • Elective

Phase III—Summative Course (~1 month)

The summative course is designed to provide the PA student with:

  • A review of the PA Program curriculum in preparation to enter clinical practice.
  • Presentation of the PA student’s Capstone Project which provides the opportunity to demonstrate the skills of a graduating PA student, including appropriate communication skills, clinical reasoning, development of assessments and plans, and mastery of core medical knowledge.
  • Education related to PA practice issues such as getting a job, contract negotiations, malpractice, and Continuing Medical Education (CME).
  • A clinical summative assessment of the PA student’s skills and knowledge to assure that they have met defined program objectives for knowledge, skills, and attitudes suitable for clinical practice.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the PA program at Dominican University of California the PA graduate will have demonstrated the specific knowledge, skills, and attitudes required to enter medical practice. These include the following competencies:

  1. Medical knowledge includes an understanding of pathophysiology, patient presentation, differential diagnosis, patient management, surgical principles, health promotion and disease prevention. Physician assistants must demonstrate core knowledge about established and evolving biomedical and clinical sciences and the application of this knowledge to patient care in their area of practice. In addition, physician assistants are expected to demonstrate an investigatory and analytic thinking approach to clinical situations.
  2. Interpersonal and communication skills encompass verbal, nonverbal and written exchange of information. Physician assistants must demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in effective information exchange with patients, their patients’.
  3. Patient care includes age-appropriate assessment, evaluation and management. Physician assistants must demonstrate care that is effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient and equitable for the treatment of health problems and the promotion of wellness.
  4. Professionalism is the expression of positive values and ideals as care is delivered. Foremost, it involves prioritizing the interests of those being served above one’s own. Physician assistants must know their professional and personal limitations. Professionalism also requires that PAs practice without impairment from substance abuse, cognitive deficiency or mental illness. Physician assistants must demonstrate a high level of responsibility, ethical practice, sensitivity to a diverse patient population and adherence to legal and regulatory requirements.
  5. Practice-based learning and improvement includes the processes through which clinicians engage in critical analysis of their own practice experience, medical literature and other information resources for the purpose of self-improvement. Physician assistants must be able to assess, evaluate and improve their patient care practices.
  6. Systems-based practice encompasses the societal, organizational and economic environments in which healthcare is delivered. Physician assistants must demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger system of healthcare to provide patient care that is of optimal value. PAs should work to improve the larger healthcare system of which their practices are a part.

Physician Assistant Studies (MS) Progression and Course Sequence

Progression Requirements for Master of Science Program in Physician Assistant Studies

The classes are a combination of traditional lectures, web-based learning modules and active learning through cases, clinical skills development, role playing, simulation, and team-based problem solving. All students must earn a 75 percent or higher to pass course exam and each system block. During the Clinical Medicine Modules there is a comprehensive assessment every 2 to 3 weeks. Students take an individual exam for each system. If a student does not pass the first, individual assessment, there is one opportunity to further learn the medical information and retest. Every student graduating from the program will have met the minimum competency of 3.0 GPA following the completion of each semester, module, and/or rotation in order to progress in the program.

See the MSPAS Student Handbook for other PA Program Policies.

Physician Assistant Course Sequence

  • All courses in the MSPAS program require admission to the program.
  • All MSPAS courses are sequential, and must be taken in order. Exceptions require permission from the Academic Progression Committee and Program Director.
  • Graduate students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 at all times while enrolled in the program.

Physician Assistant Studies (MS) Requirements

PA 5100Current Topics in the PA Profession

1.00 unit
PA 5110Clinical Assessment

3.00 units
PAL 5110Clinical Assessment/Lab

3.00 units
PA 5120Foundations of Clinical Medicine

6.00 units
PA 5130Medical Ethics and Professionalism

2.00 units
PA 5140Immuno, MedMicro & InfectDisease Pncples

3.00 units
PA 5150Intro to Evidence-Based Hlthcare & Rsrch

2.00 units
PA 5200

PA 5210

PA 5220

PA 5230

PA 5240

PA 5250

PA 5260

PA 5500

PA 5300

PA 5310

PA 5320

PA 5330

PA 5340

PA 5510

PA 5400

PA 5410

PAL 5410

PA 5420

PAL 5420

PA 5430

PA 5440

PA 5520

PA 5600

PA 5610

PA 5620

PA 5630

PA 5640

PA 5650

PA 5660

PA 5670

PA 5680

PA 5700

PA 5710

PA 5720

PA 5800

PAL 5800

PA 5900

Total Credit Hours: 102