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Physician Assistant Studies, MPAS

Student Outcomes

Assessment of Student Outcomes

Outcome EBM Evidence Based Medicine

Demonstrate an understanding of the meaning, purpose and nature of scientific inquiry by relating its significance to the practice of evidence based medicine.
Objective 12 PAS students will demonstrate use of evidence based medical knowledge.

Measure 1

2019 Status
Achieved
All PAS students have successfully passed preceptor evaluations regrading the use of evidence based medical knowledge. The average score for PAS students on medical knowledge in 2019 was 95.5%. Students continue to perform well during the clinical year as evidenced by preceptor assessments and performance. During clinical site visits, preceptors give high praise to GVSU PA students and their ability to use evidence based medicine to diagnosis and treat. There has been no adjustment to the preceptor evaluation at this time. However, as the program looks to make bigger changes, adjusting these tools is always a possibility.

2018 Status
Achieved
The average score on the preceptors' evaluation of medical knowledge was 96.2.

Objective 3 PAS students will successfully pass the PAS 582-584 series of courses within the didactic phase of the program.

Measure 1

2018 Status
Achieved
100% of PAS students in the Class of 2019 have completed and successfully passed all three Evidence Based Medicine Courses (PAS 582, PAS 583 and PAS 584). The course instructors have continued to meet in order to assure the course is reflective of current evidence based medicine content.

2017 Status
Archived
For 2017, all students passes all course sections of this course series.

Outcome IPE Health care team

Develop an understanding of the unique and complementary abilities of the health care team
Objective 11 Students will demonstrate an understanding of inter professional collaborative practice

Measure 1

2019 Status
Achieved
All PAS students have correctly answered questions regarding interprofessional education and collaborative practice, as well as participated in numerous IPE activities.

2018 Status
Achieved
100% of the students correctly answered IPE questions on the final examination in PAS 551.

2017 Status
Achieved
100% of students passed the IPE writing assessment with an 80% or better. PAS students understand the importance of collaborative, team-based practice, and understand its importance in patience care.

Objective 5 PAS students will participate in at least 2 IPE experience during the program.

Measure 2

2018 Status
Achieved
In March of 2018, all third year PAS students completed a large, IPE simulation event in Grand Rapids and Traverse City, MI. This marks a completion of three IPE events that this cohort of students completed over the two and a half years they have been in the program. Assessment of the IPE events that are provided are included in the debrief of the event, as well as at the end of the program in the exit survey. This survey will be administered during the final week of classes in December, 2018.

Outcome Med Know Medical Knowledge

Students will have the medical competence necessary for the entry level practice of medicine as a Physician Assistant
Objective 6 The PAS Graduates will exceed national average annually on the Physician Assistant National Certification Examination (PANCE).

Measure 1

2021 Status
Achieved
96% of the class of 2020 passed the PANCE on the first attempt. The two students that did not pass on the first attempt have been advised on preparation for the PANCE. Information regarding timing and study material was shared with these students, as well as those in the Class of 2021.

2018 Status
Achieved
100% of students passed the PANCE on the first attempt.

2017 Status
Achieved
100

2016 Status
Achieved
98%

Objective 7 The PAS Graduates will be able to synthesize applied basic science topics as it relates to the practice of clinical medicine.

Measure 1

2019 Status
Achieved
100% of PAS student have passed the PAS 521-524 course series in 2019. The PAS program continues to emphasize basic science material in numerous courses. This emphasis has provided the PAS students with a strong science background that is integrated in the PAS 521-524 series.

Measure 2

2021 Status
Not Yet Achieved
57% of the students in the Class of 2020 (graduating in December 2020, therefore reporting in 2021) scored above the national average in the Applying Scientific Concepts area of the PANCE. This is a change in the trend we have seen over the last 4 years. The PAS faculty continue to emphasize applied basic scientific concepts in its Pathophysiology, Clinical Medicine, Practical Therapeutics, and Evidence Based Medicine courses.

2019 Status
Not Yet Achieved
The PAS program continues to emphasize basic scientific concepts and their application to clinical practice. Objective 7.1 monitors student performance in basic scientific concepts during the didactic phase of the program, while this measure monitors the performance of students on the national board examination in this area of basic scientific concepts. The overall mean of GVSU PAS graduates is above the national mean, and 73% of students were above the national average in this category.

Outcome Prof Professionalism

Instill within the PAS learners the professional values and ethical behaviors expected of physician assistants
Objective 1 PAS students will participate in at least two community service activities prior to graduation.

Measure 1

2021 Status
Achieved
100% of PAS students in the Class of 2020 completed a community service activity. PAS students continue to be active in community service as part of their professional responsibility as PAs.

2019 Status
Not Yet Achieved
92% of PAS students participated in community service learning activities. We will continue to offer opportunities and will look for more community service learning activities for our PAS students.

2018 Status
Not Yet Achieved
The Class of 2019 will be required to do one more community service activity during PA week in their clinical year. After that is complete, then more data will be gathered and analyzed to complete this report.

2017 Status
Achieved
100% of PAS students in PAS 554 participated in a community engagement activity.

2016 Status
Achieved
100%

Measure 2

2019 Status
Achieved
The class of 2019 achieved 100% participation in community service learning activities, which is the same as 2018.

2018 Status
Achieved
Class of 2018 have completed the clinical phase of the program and 100% have engaged in at least one community service activity

2017 Status
Achieved
The Class of 2017 had 100% participation in community engagement during their clinical phase.

Objective 10 Student will exhibit honesty and integrity in all interactions

Measure 1

2019 Status
Achieved
PAS clinical preceptors evaluated all PAS students during the clinical phase of the program and the mean score was 95%. The program has always emphasized professionalism including honesty and integrity and will continue to do so, as indicated by these evaluation scores.

Outcome Pt. Care Patient Care

Demonstrate the ability to perform a complete history, physical exam and medical/surgical procedures essential to the entry level practice of a PA.
Objective 4 PAS students will successfully complete and show proficiency at an 80% level in taking a patient history, performing physical exam and essential procedures require of the entry level PA.

Measure 1

2018 Status
Achieved
All PAS students have successfully passed all aspects of each of these courses with a 80% or greater score.

2017 Status
Achieved
100% of students have completed and passed the 561-564 series of courses that include history, physical exam and procedural training.

Measure 2

2021 Status
Achieved
100% of PAS students scored above an 80% on the history, physical exam, and procedures assessment by preceptors. GVSU PAS students continue to perform very well in this area of their education. The students have four courses within the didactic phase that emphasis history, PE and procedures in patient care. There were some modifications to the delivery methods of the lab portion of these courses in 2021 based on the CoVid-19 pandemic, however the content of the curriculum did not change.

2019 Status
Achieved
All students successfully passed the preceptors evaluation of performance on history, physical exam, and essential procedures with an 80% or greater. Students continue to impress clinical preceptors with their ability to perform these items in clinical practice.

2018 Status
Achieved
Only one student has not successfully passed a preceptor evaluation in the area of procedures. That student is being remediated in this area, until he successfully passes the area of the evaluation.

2017 Status
Not Yet Achieved
98% of PAS students scored above 80% on the history and physical exam skills by a preceptor.

2016 Status
Achieved
100%

Objective 9 The PAS students will demonstrate and prove competency in the history and physical exam components of patient care.

Measure 1

2019 Status
Not Yet Achieved
58% of PAS students have scored at or above the national average in the history and physical exam section of the PANCE, while 42% did not meet this benchmark. There has been no major change in the instruction in this area in the last few years. The program has made it a priority to review this area of the curriculum to ensure we are teaching in the best and most effective manner as possible.

2018 Status
Achieved
84% of GVSU PA students scored at or above the national average on the History and Physical Exam section of the PANCE.

2017 Status
Not Yet Achieved
80% of GVSU PA students scored at or above the national average on the History and Physical Exam section of the PANCE.

2016 Status
Achieved
80% was the mean score on GVSU PAS students taking the PANCE. The national average during this year was 77%. The program continues to outpace the nation in this category.

Measure 4

2021 Status
Achieved
96% of students pass the clinical summative examination on the first attempt. The two students that did not pass the initial clinical summative examination, remediated that examination and subsequently passed with scores over 80%. The CoVid-19 pandemic did alter the methods by which this material was delivered to the students in this cohort (Class of 2020), however, the material covered was the same.

2019 Status
Achieved
100% of GVSU PAS students passed the clinical practical exam with an 80% or better.

2018 Status
Achieved
Students continue to perform well on the clinical summative evaluation in the history and physical examination section.

2017 Status
Achieved
100 % of students passed the clinical summative examination in 2017.

Outcome Q Patient Care

PAS learners will demonstrate the ability to formulate the most likely diagnosis at the level of a new graduate.
Objective 13 PAS students will demonstrate, during the clinical year, the ability to develop a differential diagnosis

Measure 1

2019 Status
Achieved
98% of GVSU PAS students passed this area of clinical assessment by clinical preceptors. The program will continue to emphasize this area in the clinical aspect of the curriculum. No changes in the curriculum

Objective 14 PAS graduates will exceed national average annually on the PA National Certification Examination (PANCE) in the subcategory of "formulating the most likely diagnosis".

Measure 1

2021 Status
Not Yet Achieved
59% of students scored at or above the national average on "Formulating the most likely diagnosis" section of the PANCE exam. This topic is addressed in many courses within the program. Student performance continues to be satisfactory compared to national benchmarks, however fell below the threshold of 80% on this section.