Policies
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Withdrawal Policies
Student Employment Policies
Advanced Standing
Student Grievance Polices
Expected Student Competencies
Graduation Requirements
Withdrawal Policies
Refunds
Foothill College tuition fees may be refunded under certain circumstances. The specific policy is listed in the quarterly Foothill College Schedule of Classes. Any questions concerning tuition and fees should be directed to the Foothill College Admissions and records Office. Foothill College policy on tuition and fee refunds please see http://www.foothill.edu/reg/fees.php.
The Stanford certification fee may be refunded if the student withdraws from the course within the first month of the quarter.
Student Employment Policies
- Students are discouraged from seeking or maintaining employment while enrolled in the PCA program.
- Students may not work for the PCA program. The Program may hire work-study students, but PCA students cannot hold these positions.
- During preceptorship experiences, students must not be used to substitute for clinical or administrative staff at clinic sites (paid or unpaid).
- Students with specific prior knowledge, experiences and skills may assist faculty in didactic and laboratory sessions to share their knowledge and skills.
Advanced Standing
The program does not offer advanced placement.
Student Grievance and Appeal Process
A student who believes he or she has been treated improperly by the Program is entitled to a review of that action under this grievance and appeal procedure. The rights protected under this procedure include, but are not limited to those guaranteed by:
- Established rules and regulations of the Foothill DeAnza Community College District, Foothill College
- Education Code of the State of California
- Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972
- Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973
- Title VII of the Civil Rights Acts of 1964.
For a student in the Program, the procedure described below will be applicable and stand in place of any grievance or appeal procedure of Foothill College to contest such act, unless the Program refers the student to a Foothill College procedure.
A student who believes that he or she has been treated improperly by an action of the Program must make a reasonable, good faith attempt to resolve the matter on an informal basis. Any appropriate administrator, faculty member, or staff member may be invited to participate and assist in achieving an amicable resolution, as described above in the section on Conflict Resolution.
If the student is not satisfied with the results of the conflict resolution process, and the student believes that s/he has been treated improperly by the Program, the student may file an appeal. The action being appealed must arise from an action taken by an individual faculty member or administrator of the Program or a committee charged with administering a part of the Program. Complaints about a Program policy of general application to all students cannot be used as the basis of an individual appeal. Resolution of appeals are first handled internally. If necessary a formal hearing with Foothill and Stanford representatives is pursued.
Competencies of Program Graduates
The PCAP curriculum follows competencies guidelines established by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. These guidelines define the specific knowledge, skills, attitudes, and educational experiences needed in order to train physician assistants who provide uniformly high quality health care and demonstrate greater accountability in their profession. The competencies are:
Medical Knowledge
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. Physician assistants are expected to:
- understand etiologies, risk factors, underlying pathologic process, and epidemiology for medical conditions
- identify signs and symptoms of medical conditions
- select and interpret appropriate diagnostic or lab studies
- manage general medical and surgical conditions to include understanding the indications, contraindications, side effects, interactions and adverse reactions of pharmacologic agents and other relevant treatment modalities
- identify the appropriate site of care for presenting conditions, including identifying emergent cases and those requiring referral or admission
- identify appropriate interventions for prevention of conditions
- identify the appropriate methods to detect conditions in an asymptomatic individual
- differentiate between the normal and the abnormal in anatomic, physiological, laboratory findings and other diagnostic data
- appropriately use history and physical findings and diagnostic studies to formulate a differential diagnosis
- provide appropriate care to patients with chronic conditions
Interpersonal and Communication Skills
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’ families, physicians, professional associates, and the health care system. Physician assistants are expected to:
- create and sustain a therapeutic and ethically sound relationship with patients
- use effective listening, nonverbal, explanatory, questioning, and writing skills to elicit and provide information
- appropriately adapt communication style and messages to the context of the individual patient interaction
- work effectively with physicians and other health care professionals as a member or leader of a health care team or other professional group
- apply an understanding of human behavior
- demonstrate emotional resilience and stability, adaptability, flexibility and tolerance of ambiguity and anxiety
- accurately and adequately document and record information regarding the care process for medical, legal, quality and financial purposes
Patient Care
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. Physician assistants are expected to:
- work effectively with physicians and other health care professionals to provide patient- centered care
- demonstrate caring and respectful behaviors when interacting with patients and their families
- gather essential and accurate information about their patients
- make informed decisions about diagnostic and therapeutic interventions based on patient information and preferences, up-to-date scientific evidence, and clinical judgment
- develop and carry out patient management plans
- counsel and educate patients and their families
- competently perform medical and surgical procedures considered essential in the area of practice
- provide health care services and education aimed at preventing health problems or maintaining health
Professionalism
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. Physician assistants are expected to demonstrate:
- understanding of legal and regulatory requirements, as well as the appropriate role of the physician assistant
- respectful relationships with physician supervisors and other health care providers
- respect, compassion, and integrity in interactions with patients, instructors, staff, and fellow students.
- responsiveness to the needs of patients and society
- accountability to patients, society, and the profession
- commitment to excellence and on-going professional development
- commitment to ethical principles pertaining to provision or withholding of clinical care, confidentiality of patient information, informed consent, and business practices
- sensitivity and responsiveness to patients’ culture, age, gender, and disabilities
- self-reflection, critical curiosity and initiative
Practice-based Learning and Improvement
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. Physician assistants are expected to:
- analyze practice experience and perform practice-based improvement activities using a systematic methodology in concert with other members of the health care delivery team
- locate, appraise, and integrate evidence from scientific studies related to their patients’ health problems
- obtain and apply information about their own population of patients and the larger population from which their patients are drawn
- apply knowledge of study designs and statistical methods to the appraisal of clinical studies and other information on diagnostic and therapeutic effectiveness
- apply information technology to manage information, access on-line medical information, and support their own education
- facilitate the learning of students and/or other health care professionals
- recognize and appropriately address gender, cultural, cognitive, emotional and other biases; gaps in medical knowledge; and physical limitations in themselves and others
Systems-based Practice
Systems-based practice encompasses the societal, organizational and economic environments in which health care is delivered. Physician assistants must demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger system of health care to provide patient care that is of optimal value. PAs should work to improve the larger health care system of which their practices are a part.
Physician assistants are expected to:
- use information technology to support patient care decisions and patient education
- effectively interact with different types of medical practice and delivery systems
- understand the funding sources and payment systems that provide coverage for patient care
- practice cost-effective health care and resource allocation that does not compromise quality of care
- advocate for quality patient care and assist patients in dealing with system complexities
- partner with supervising physicians, health care managers and other health care providers to assess, coordinate, and improve the delivery of health care and patient outcomes
- accept responsibility for promoting a safe environment for patient care and recognizing and correcting systems-based factors that negatively impact patient care
- apply medical information and clinical data systems to provide more effective, efficient patient care
- use the systems responsible for the appropriate payment of services
The PA Competencies Online Center, “Physician Assistant Competencies,” National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, Accessed May 20, 2009
Graduation Requirements
In order to graduate from the Primary Care Associate Program and be awarded a Certificate of Clinical Proficiency from Stanford University School of Medicine, a student must achieve passing grade (“C” or better) in each required course in the curriculum. The student must also meet minimum passing standards of a Summative Evaluation, given at the end of their training, which includes demonstration of:
- adequate fund of medical knowledge (comprehensive multiple choice examination)
- adequate clinical, interpersonal and communication skills (standardized patient exam)
- adequate critical thinking in determining patient care (standardized patient exam)
- appropriate professional behavior (summary of assessments of professional behavior observed and evaluated by principal faculty, site visitors and clinical preceptors throughout the curriculum)
- Physician Assistant Competencies as measured by the above testing modalities
- maintenance of technical standards
In order to graduate students must also complete payment of all tuition, fees and library charges.
