Rocky mountain college physicians assistant programs

Building upon concepts and discussions begun during the didactic year regarding evidence-based medicine, ethics, and professionalism, the student will leave the program with a focus on enhancing patient safety through communication, data gathering, and quality improvement techniques. Students will apply skills learned from Evidence-Based Medicine: Research, Communications and Applications, and Professional and Medical Practice Issues to choose a case study developed and researched during the clinical rotations.

The course will conclude with an oral presentation to second-year peers and the faculty of a literature supported case study and a written page paper. Case study development will be mentored by the director of clinical education and supported by the core faculty. Presentations will be delivered the week of graduation. This course provides an introduction to gerontology with an emphasis on the normal biological, sociological, behavioral, and environmental changes that occur with age.

Consequences of aging from the perspective of primary health care providers will be presented. Principles and methods of multidimensional assessment relative to the recognition and management of medical disease and mental illness with an emphasis on maximizing functional independence is discussed. The skills of history taking and physical assessment in the geriatric population with hands-on experience in nursing homes will be taught.

Students will understand the end of life issues and ethics in palliative care with review of the model of advanced care planning. Hospice care and advanced directives will be presented. Within this setting, the emphasis is on the accurate collection, assessment, and presentation of patient data for physician review, indications for laboratory and imaging diagnostics, and the education of patients regarding health risk behaviors and therapeutic regimens. Emergency Medicine Rotation This core rotation of six weeks is designed to provide an in-depth exposure to the illnesses and injuries sustained by children and adults that necessitate emergency care.

The educational experiences emphasize the focusing of interview and examination skills and the performance of techniques and procedures essential to the proper management of life-threatening illnesses and injuries.

Ventilatory assistance, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, fluid and electrolyte replacement, and acid-base balance are stressed. General Pediatrics Rotation This core rotation of six weeks is structured to provide the student with an in-depth exposure to the assessment and management of children and adolescents.

Included will be a focus on the newborn physical, well-child care, and those acute processes unique to the pediatric patient. Learning experiences will also include family planning and birth control, recognition and treatment of sexually transmitted infections, cancer detection, and evaluation of common gynecological problems.

General Surgery Rotation This core rotation of six weeks provides an orientation to patients of various ages with surgically manageable diseases. The emphasis of the learning experiences are on the pre-operative evaluation and preparation of patients for surgery, assistance during the intra-operative period to develop an understanding of team member roles and operative procedures, and post-operative patient management and care of surgical wounds and complications.

Psychiatry Rotation This core rotation of six weeks is designed to provide an understanding of the behavioral components of health, disease, and disability. Exposure to patients with a variety of emotional illnesses and disabilities are used to develop informed history taking and mental status examination skills, the ability to recognize and categorize psychiatric disturbances, and techniques for early intervention and psychiatric referral.

Elective Rotation This rotation of six weeks is designed to give students an opportunity to explore professional options as physician assistants and may include additional clinical practice in any of the core rotations, any medical or surgical subspecialty, or experiential learning in academic medicine. Syllabi have been developed for common elective rotations. A student who desires to complete an elective rotation that is not included among those previously developed needs to have prior approval by the program director.

An appropriate syllabus will be developed and must be approved by the Program Curriculum Committee before the rotation begins. Physician Assistant Studies. Course Catalog: Physician Assistant Studies Overview Courses Faculty The physician assistant PA is a licensed primary healthcare provider who practices medicine under the supervision of a physician. Goal Two: Graduates Will Demonstrate Interpersonal and Communication Skills Appropriate to PA Professionals Goal Two SLOs: 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; and Accurately and adequately document and record information regarding the care process for medical, legal, quality, and financial purposes.

Goal Three: Graduates Will Demonstrate the Competencies in Patient Care Appropriate to PA Professionals Goal Three SLOs: 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 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; and Provide health care services and education aimed at preventing health problems or maintaining health.

Goal Four: Graduates Will Demonstrate Professionally Appropriate Knowledge and Behaviors Goal Four SLOs: Understand legal and regulatory requirements, as well as the appropriate role of the physician assistant; Demonstrate professional relationships with physician supervisors and other health care providers; Demonstrate respect, compassion, and integrity; Demonstrate responsiveness to the needs of patients and society; Demonstrate accountability to patients, society, and the profession; Demonstrate a commitment to excellence and on-going professional development; Demonstrate a commitment to ethical principles pertaining to provision or withholding of clinical care, confidentiality of patient information, informed consent, and business practices; Demonstrate sensitivity and responsiveness to patients' culture, age, gender, and disabilities; and Demonstrate self-reflection, critical curiosity, and initiative.

Graduation Requirements Students enrolled in the professional phase of the physician assistant program must satisfactorily complete all of the following requirements in order to successfully graduate and be awarded the Master of Physician Assistant Studies MPAS degree: All didactic phase coursework specified in the program of study outlined below with a minimum grade of "C" in each course; A minimum cumulative program GPA of 3.

Program Overview The program matriculates one class per year and the coursework begins in early July. Students will have the ability to apply cases they see in their day-to-day practice to the subject matter throughout the program. The DMSc promotes the value of lifelong learning which is essential to remain a highly-qualified healthcare professional. Much of the United States is considered rural, with many of those residents qualifying as part of an underserved population.

Physician Assistants play a crucial role in providing access to these populations. February 10, - The Rocky Mountain College Board of Trustees and faculty have approved a new Doctor of Medical Science DMSc program designed for practicing physician assistants who already have their master of physician assistant degrees. 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 responsibility to repay unearned aid is shared by the institution and the student in proportion to the aid each is calculated to possess.

The College will return its share of unearned Federal Title IV funds no later than 45 days after it determines that the student withdrew. If the student withdraws without official notification, the College will determine the last date of attendance. Academically related activities include, but are not limited to a lecture, a lab, an exam, attending a study group.

Residing in institution owned facilities or eating at institution provided food services are not considered to be academically related activities.