Physician Assistant (Associate) Program

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a University of Oklahoma

Health Sciences Center

College of Medicine

Department of Family and Preventive Medicine

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Physician AssistantsProfessional member of the health care team.

Direct extension of the physician used to improve access to high quality health care.

Often works in similar capacity as physician but work is always guided and supervised by a physician.

PA’s do NOT work independently (without physician supervision).

The Physician does not need to be physically present when the Physician Assistant provides services.

The physician retains overall responsibility for the care of the patient.

PAs work within the scope of practice of their supervising physician

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Scope of Practice

Obtain a patient’s accurate medical history

Perform a thorough physical examination

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Scope of Practice

Ordering and analyzing laboratory and diagnostic

tests

Performing routine diagnostic tests such as PAP smears and EKG’s

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Scope of Practice

Diagnosing and treating medical problems

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Scope of Practice

Prescribe medications

Write medical orders in hospitals

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Scope of Practice

Make hospital rounds

Initiate and manage emergency treatment

Assist in surgery

Debride, suture and care for

wounds

Cast and splint fractures and

sprains

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Scope of Practice

Minimum 90 hrs (most with degrees)English Composition: 2 semestersU.S. Government: 1 semesterHistory: 1 semesterPsychology: 1 semesterPsych Elective: 1 semesterCollege Algebra or higher: 1 semesterMicrobiology: 1 semesterGeneral Chemistry: 2 semestersGeneral Physics: 1 semester

Pathogenic MicrobiologyVirologyImmunology

Human Physiology: 1 semesterHuman Anatomy: 1 semester

(or two semesters of A&P)

Only need of one semester of one of these three courses (not all three)

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Prerequisites

Organic Chemistry

2 semesters

Biochemistry or Cell Biology 1 semester

Medical Terminology

1 semester

Cadaver dissection course encouraged

Bachelor Degree

Students are encouraged to pursue a degree that requires these courses

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Proposed Prerequisite Changes

Minimum GPA for Consideration to the Program: 2.75

GPA - 3.6975% - 3.87 or better Maximum 4.025% - 3.56-3.86 Minimum 3.210% - 3.41 or lower

SCIENCE GPA – 3.6975% - 3.81 or better Maximum 4.025% - 3.31-3.8 Minimum 2.9210% - 3.19 or lower

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Grade Point Averages

LAST 60 HOURS GPA - 3.7375% - 3.89 or better Maximum 4.025% - 3.61-3.88 Minimum 2.910% - 3.49 or lower

GRADUATE COURSE GPA: 3.70 with at least 42 hours75% had >3.89 and > 49 hours Maximum 3.94/81 hours25% had 3.52-3.89 and > 27 hours Minimum 3.27/11 hours10% had <3.37 and < 17 hours

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Grade Point Averages

Poor GPA

If you can’t make the grades - stop and fix the problem

Last 60 hours important  - “A’s”. Don't get discouraged if youstarted out slowly in college – improving your GPA fromyear to year counts for a lot. A less than stellar first twoyears in college can be made up to some extent with agood finish

If C’s in applied sciences (anatomy, physiology, micro, path, etc)may need to repeat to get good grasp of the basics or take upper level courses (biochem is better than taking gen chem again) – make A’s

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Grade Point Averages

GRE score average or better(not a major factor unless you have a low GPA)

Written – 4.53 75% - 5.00 or better Maximum 6.025% - 4.00-5.00 Minimum 3.510% - 3.95 or lower

Quantitative – 59775% - 650 or better Maximum 75025% - 550-640 Minimum 39010% - 498 or lower

Verbal – 46775% - 520 or better Maximum 62025% - 410-510 Minimum 32010% - 390 or lowerU

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Graduate Record Exam

Deadline is October 1Apply early (to make sure everything gets in) – we do not start

looking at applications until after the October 1 deadline

Check application status online to see if anything is missing or incomplete – information is entered daily so check website (if it is not on the website then we do not have it)

It is student’s responsibility to make sure everything is in by October 1

Nothing submitted after October 1st will be accepted

Prerequisites do not have to be complete by the October 1st deadline

If GRE scores are not in by October 1st that ok – we will accept them from the testing center after the deadline as long as the test has been taken by September 30U

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Application

• 256 applicants in 2008

• 144 called for interview

• 50 admitted

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Acceptance rates

Three PROFESSIONAL references or ORU committee letter

References should come from people able to provide an objective evaluation of you

Physician, PA, professor, leadership sponsor, work manager, volunteer supervisor are good

When asking for a letter do the following:Give as much time as possible and give them a deadline

Ask them to write you a strong letter of recommendation (not just an average one)

Give them information about yourself (resume) so that theycan highlight your achievements

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Letters of Recomendation

“Why I want to be a PA”

No tears - cut to the chaseWhy do you want to go into this profession?

Your motivation to become a PA will help shape the way you go about achieving your goal

If you do it for the right reasons people will likely recognize that, same thing applies if you are doing it for the wrong reasons

Sell yourself

Second time applicant….  What have you done to improve yourself?

Whatever your reasons for going to PA school just make sure they are from the heart.

We want to see if you can communicate in writing

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Position Statement

Pre-Health Professions clubs are often good sources of information

Focus on work experience, volunteerism, leadership experience, and involvement in professional clubs (clubs, sororities, fraternities, diversity groups, etc)

List shadowing experiences

Document time spent with PA students

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Resume

Can be hard to get health care experience

More important to find out the role of a PA

VolunteeringOne of the best things you

can do to enrich yourself is to perform volunteer work - helping other human beings is part of what medicine is about

Part of what will set you apart as an applicant are those things that show traits such as compassion and caring

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Health Care Experience

Should be done for the reason of learning about the function and role of a PA

The experiences should not be for the amount of time spent with a PA, but for what was learned during the time spent with the PA (what does a PA do?)

Ask questions of the PA on what they like/dislike about the profession, hot topics, the future of the profession, etc.

Recommend one primary care and two specialty areas

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Shadowing

Occurs in early to mid-January

Allows use to get to know you up close and personal

We are mostly interested in what kind of person you are and how you would fit into our program

During the interview itself make eye contact, smile and try to relax as much as you can

Be honest and forthright with your answers

Come prepared for all the favorite interviewer questions such as: why do you want to be a PA? Tell me about yourself. Tell me what you know about our program, etc.

Know why you want to be a PA rather than any other professionUniv

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Personal Interview

Well-Rounded PersonalityIt takes a well rounded person with an ability to communicate accurately and efficiently to become a successful Physician Associate. This includes a person who has been willing to step beyond academia and correspond with their community. Those “life experience” blend well with profession of Physician Associate.

Team PlayerThe Physician and Physician Associate role is that of cooperation. The ability to work in an environment that fits with both you and your Supervising Physician’s beliefs is imperative. Your role within that environment is constantly changing. Their may be times that you may need to take the lead in a situation but always remembering the role of your Physician. In addition, an incident my occur that requires you to play more of a contributing member and not a leader.

MotivationThe medicine and health field is constantly changing with the discoveries to improve health care. Therefore, as members of the health care field, you must be motivated to stay current within this field.

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PA Characteristics

Prepare for possibility of not being accepted

Don’t get discouragedMany students do not get in the first time

Seek advisement

Get degree, if not done already

Spend more time shadowing PAs

Come to class and talk with students

Improve GPA (especially upper science)

Health care experience Take graduate hoursUniv

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What if Not Selected?