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Physician Assistant Program Goals, Student Expectations and Outcomes

 

 

Williamsburg

Program Goals 
Goal 1: To recruit students from medically underserved regions — in Appalachia and across the country — who have demonstrated commitment to academic and professional excellence.

  • Outcome

    1A: The Program has exceeded the minimum benchmark for the last three admission years (cohorts 2023, 2024, 2025) at 68%, 80%, and 83% of students who have identified themselves as residing in the medically underserved regions in each incoming Cohort.  

    1B: The Program has been intermittent at meeting the minimum benchmark for the last three admission years (cohorts 2023, 2024, and 2025) at, 52%, 40% and 20% of students, respectively, identifying as Appalachian residency.

Goal 2: Provide the graduate with the requisite fund of medical knowledge, in accordance with the NCCPA Blueprint, in order to provide evidence-based medical care in all settings.

  • Outcome

    2A: Students of cohort 2019-2024 have inconsistently demonstrated medical knowledge acquisition through academic score achievement on nationally benchmarked examinations, including PACKRAT I (PR I), PACKRAT II (PR II), EORE, and PANCE. Most recent cohort 2024’s PACKRAT I at or above national average content and task areas: Orthopedics/Rheumatology. Most recent cohort 2023’s PACKRAT II content and task areas all are above national average except for Hematology. Overall Program First-time test taker PANCE rate is 90% for the most recent five cohorts (2019-2023) of data. Most recent cohort 2023 PANCE First Time Test Taker Pass Rate: 100% Most recent available data for cohort 2022’s PANCE at or above national average content and task areas: Gastrointestinal/Nutrition, Psychiatric/Behavioral, Infectious Disease, History Taking and Performing Physical Examination.   

    2B: All students in cohorts 2021, 2022, and 2023 have been given scores above the minimum benchmark for Applying Basic Science Concepts, Health Maintenance, Patient Education, and Preventative Measures by their preceptors on the PES.  

    2C: Eighty-six percent of students of cohort 2022 positively appraised their acquisition of knowledge in the didactic year but all positively appraised their acquisition of medical knowledge on the clinical year.  Ninety-four percent of students of cohort 2023 positively appraised their acquisition of medical knowledge in both the didactic year and on the exit survey. Outcome data for Cohort 2024-didactic year will be available September 2023 and clinical year data will be available October 2024.  

Goal 3: Provide the graduate with the clinical and technical skills necessary to provide competent medical care.  

  • Outcome

    3A: All students scored below the national average in H & P, Lab and Diagnostics, Clinical Therapeutics, Clinical Interventions, and Forming the Most Likely Diagnosis areas on PACKRAT I. and PACKRAT II in cohort 2022, cohort 2023, and 2024. Students have scored consistently above the national average on PANCE.  Students of Cohort 2020, 2021, and 2022 have scored below the national average in Lab and Diagnostics, Clinical Interventions, and Forming the most likely Diagnosis on PANCE.  Students of Cohort 2020, 2021, and 2022 have scored above the national average in Clinical Therapeutics on PANCE.  

    3B: Overall average for End of didactic OSCE is above the minimum benchmark of 75% for students of cohort 2024, and when stratified by task areas by a number of students in each respective cohort 2021, 2022, and 2023, All but one student in cohort 2024 was above benchmark. The majority of all students scored at or above benchmark on all task areas except for pharmaceutical therapeutics and medical record documentation on the clinical phase summative OSCE for cohort 2023. Students of Cohort 2021, 2022, and 2023 consistently had cohort average PES scores above the minimum benchmark in all assessed cohorts.  Outcome data for didactic Cohort 2025 and clinical Cohort 2024 will be available October 2024.  

    3C: All students of Cohorts 2021, 2022, and 2023 have positively appraised their competency acquisition of clinical and technical skills necessary to provide competent medical care on the NCCPA Self-Evaluation of Competencies exit survey. Outcome data for Cohort 2024 will be available October 2024.   

Goal 4: Provide the graduate with the interpersonal and communication skills that result in the effective exchange of information and collaboration with patients, their families, and other health professionals.  

  • Outcome

    4A: In cohort 2020, 44% of the class, in Cohort 2021, 48% of the class, and in Cohort 2022, 58% of the class scored at or above the national average on the professional practice task area on the PANCE. Outcome data for Cohort 2023 will be available October 2024.    
     
    4B: Analysis of Cohort 2021’s, 2022’s, and 2023’s students’ Preceptor Evaluation of the Student (PES) data reveals students achieving above minimum benchmark in all the following areas: Professional Practice and Patient Education.   Outcome data for Cohort 2024 will be available October 2024. 
     
    4C: All students of Cohort 2021, 2022, and 2023 have positively appraised their interpersonal and communication skills on the NCCPA Self-Evaluation of Competencies exit survey.  Outcome data for Cohort 2024 will be available October 2024.

Goal 5: Provide the graduate with the knowledge and skills necessary to work collaboratively in interprofessional patient-centered teams.  

  • Outcome

    5A: In cohort 2020, 44% of the class, in Cohort 2021, 48% of the class, and in Cohort 2022, 58% of the class scored at or above the national average on the professional practice task area on the PANCE. Outcome data for Cohort 2023 will be available October 2024.     

    5B: Cohorts 2023, 2024, and 2025 have demonstrated working collaboratively in interprofessional patient-centered teams through IPE Assignment in the didactic year. Clinical Cohorts 2020-2023 have 93% or greater logging of IPE exposure on EXXAT during the Clinical year. Clinical Cohorts have Professional Practice PES scores above the minimum benchmark, supporting adequate IPE exposure in all cohorts.  Outcome data for didactic Cohort 2026 and clinical Cohort 2024 will be available October 2024.  

    5C: All students of Cohort 2021, 2022, and 2023 have positively appraised their ability to work collaboratively in interprofessional patient-centered teams on the NCCPA Self-Evaluation of Competencies exit survey.  Outcome data for Cohort 2024 will be available October 2024.

Goal 6: Provide the graduate with the knowledge and skills to provide medical care regarding issues that affect diverse populations.  

  • Outcome

    6A: In cohort 2020, 44% of the class, in Cohort 2021, 48% of the class, and in Cohort 2022, 58% of the class scored at or above the national average on the professional practice task area on the PANCE. Outcome data for Cohort 2023 will be available October 2024.  
     
    6B: Students of Cohort 2021, 2022, and 2023 have demonstrated knowledge and skills to provide medical care regarding issues that affect diverse populations with the achievement of scores above the minimum benchmark in the Professional Practice and Caring for Diverse Populations sections of the Preceptor Evaluation of the Student (PES). Outcome data for Cohort 2024 will be available October 2024.
     
    6C: All students of Cohort 2021, 2022, and 2023 have positively appraised their ability to provide medical care regarding issues that affect diverse populations on the NCCPA Self-Evaluation of Competencies exit survey. Outcome data for Cohort 2024 will be available October 2024.

 

Student Expectations/Graduate Competencies and Outcomes

Program Competency

Description

Evidenced by:

Clinical and Technical Skills

A PA that is competent in Clinical and Technical Skills provides person-centered care that includes patient- and setting-specific assessment, evaluation and management, and healthcare that is evidence-based, supports patient safety, and advances health equity. 

  1. Successful completion of the MPAS 530-533 Patient Assessment courses.
     
    • 100% cohort 2021, 2022, and 2023 
       
  2. Successful completion of the MPAS 505-506 Medical Procedures courses. 
     
    • 100% cohort 2021, 2022, and 2023 
       
  3. Successful completion of the summative OSCE that occurs during the didactic phase. 
     
    • 100% cohort 2022, 2023, and 2024 
       
  4. Successful completion of the OSCE component of the summative evaluation that occurs during the clinical phase. 
     
    • 100% cohort 2021, 2023 
    • 96% cohort 2022 
       
  5. Completion of the Master Competency List (MCL) component of the summative evaluation that occurs during the clinical phase. 
     
    • 100% cohort 2021, 2022, and 2023 

Clinical Reasoning and Problem-Solving Abilities

A PA that is competent in Clinical Reasoning and Problem-Solving Abilities synthesizes and analyzes pertinent clinical data to diagnose and implement appropriate management plans for diverse populations across the lifespan. 

  1. Successful completion of the MPAS 530-533 Patient Assessment courses. 
     
    • 100% cohort 2022, 2023, and 2024 
       
  2. Successful completion of the MPAS 501-503 Integration Seminar courses. 
     
    • 100% cohort 2022, 2023, and 2024 
       
  3. Successful completion of the summative OSCE that occurs during the didactic phase. 
     
    • 100% cohort 2022, 2023, and 2024 
       
  4. Successful completion of the MPAS 600-670 SCPE courses. 
     
    • 100% cohort 2021, 2022, and 2023 
       
  5. Successful completion of the OSCE component of the summative evaluation that occurs during the clinical phase. 
     
    • 100% cohort 2021, 2022, and 2023 

Interpersonal and Communication Skills

A PA that is competent in Interpersonal and Communication Skills effectively exchanges information and collaborates with patients, their families, and health professionals. 

  1. Successful completion of the MPAS 530-533 Patient Assessment courses. 

     
    • 100% cohort 2022, 2023, and 2024 
       
  2. Successful completion of MPAS 581 Health Care Issues I course. 
     
    • 100% cohort 2022, 2023, and 2024 
       
  3. Successful completion of the summative OSCE that occurs during the didactic phase. 
     
    • 100% cohort 2022, 2023, and 2024 
       
  4. Successful completion of the MPAS 600-670 SCPE courses. 
     
    • 100% cohort 2021, 2022, and 2023 
       
  5. Successful completion of the OSCE component of the summative evaluation that occurs during the clinical phase. 
     
    • 100% cohort 2021, 2022, and 2023 
       
  6. Successful completion of a program-designed Interprofessional Experience (IPE) activity. 

     
    • 100% cohort 2023, 2024, and 2025 

Medical Knowledge

A PA that is competent in Medical Knowledge demonstrates an understanding of established and evolving biomedical and clinical sciences and the application of this knowledge to patient care. 

  1. Successful completion of MPAS didactic courses with a final letter grade of “C” or above. 

     
    • 100% cohort 2022, 2023, and 2024 
       
  2. Successful completion of MPAS 600-660 SCPE courses. 
     
    • 100% cohort 2021, 2022, and 2023 
       
  3. Successful completion of the exam component of the summative evaluation (The PAEA End of Curriculum Exam) that occurs during the clinical phase. 

     
    • 100% cohort 2021, 2023 
    • 96% cohort 2022 

Professionalism

A PA that is competent in Professionalism is committed to practicing medicine in ethically and legally appropriate ways and emphasizing professional maturity and accountability for delivering safe and quality care to patients and populations.

  1. Achievement of an at or above benchmark scores on the professionalism assessment component of the summative evaluation that occurs during the clinical phase (i.e. the Summative Professional Assessment Tool (SPAT)) 

     
    • 100% cohort 2021, 2022, and 2023 
       
  2. Achievement of an at or above benchmark cumulative average score for the Professional Practice component of the Preceptor Evaluation of the Student (PES) for MPAS 600-670. 
     
    • 100% cohort 2021, 2022, and 2023 
       
  3. Successful completion of the MPAS 550, 581, 582, 591, 680, 692, 693 courses. 
     
    • 100% cohort 2021, 2022, and 2023

 

*Table updates with available data each October for the most recent cohort data.  

Northern Kentucky

Click here for measuring of Program Goals
Program Goals

Goal 1: Demonstrate ethical behavior and integrity in medical practice.

  • Preceptor Evaluation of Student Preparedness for Rotations
  • Professional Development Assessment Tool (PDAT)
  • Summative Professional Assessment Tool (SPAT)
  • Exit Survey

Goal 2: Exhibit attributes of engaged citizenship and philanthropy.

  • Student Society Community Service Events
  • Exit Survey

Goal 3: Support effective and sensitive communication skills with patients and members of the health care team.

  • Interprofessional Didactic Encounter(s)
  • Preceptor Evaluation of Student Preparedness for Rotations
  • Professional Development Assessment Tool (PDAT)
  • Summative Professional Assessment Tool (SPAT)
  • End of Year Exam OSCE (end of didactic phase)
  • Summative II OSCE
  • Exit Survey

Goal 4: Perform a complete physical exam and organize, integrate, interpret and present clinical data in a clear, concise manner.

  • Supervised Clinical Practice Experience (SCPE) Clinical Notes
  • Preceptor Evaluation of Student Preparedness for Rotations
  • End of Year Exam OSCE (end of didactic phase)
  • Summative II OSCE
  • Master Competency List (MCL)

Goal 5: Apply knowledge of basic science concepts to facilitate understanding of medical sciences.

  • MPAS 541, 542, 543 Clinical Medicine I-III course grades
  • Preceptor Evaluation of Student Preparedness for Rotations
  • Professional Development Assessment Tool (PDAT)
  • Summative Professional Assessment Tool (SPAT)
  • End of Year Exam Written (end of didactic phase)
  • Summative II Written
  • PANCE: Applying Basic Science Concepts Task Area

Goal 6: Illustrate a comprehensive approach to normal human health and development, both physical and mental.

  • Supervised Clinical Practice Experience (SCPE) Clinical Notes
  • Preceptor Evaluation of Student Preparedness for Rotations
  • End of Year Exam OSCE (end of didactic phase)
  • Summative II OSCE
  • End of Year Written (end of didactic phase)
  • Summative II Written
  • PANCE: Health Maintenance Task Area

Goal 7: Integrate diagnostic assessment skills with knowledge of patient presentation and pharmacology to formulate appropriate treatment plans.

  • Supervised Clinical Practice Experience (SCPE) Clinical Notes
  • Preceptor Evaluation of Student Preparedness for Rotations
  • End of Year OSCE (end of didactic phase)
  • Summative II OSCE
  • End of Year Written (end of didactic phase)
  • Summative II Written
  • PANCE: Using Laboratory & Diagnostic Studies, Clinical Intervention & Pharmaceutical Therapeutics Task Areas

Goal 8: Demonstrate mastery of basic clinical procedures performed by a PA entering into clinical practice.

  • Preceptor Evaluation of Student Preparedness for Rotations
  • Master Competency List (MCL)

Goal 9: Demonstrate refined critical thinking skills and intellectual inquiry to evaluate sources of information and generate new and evolving medical knowledge.

  • Instruction in MPAS 591 Research, Epidemiology and Stats and passing grade.
  • Instruction in MPAS 692 Capstone I and passing grade.
  • Instruction in MPAS 693 Capstone II and passing grade.
  • Preceptor Evaluation of Student Preparedness for Rotations
  • End of Year Exam Written (end of didactic phase)
  • Summative II Written
  • Exit Survey
  • PANCE: Formulate Most Likely Diagnosis Task Area

Goal 10: Incorporate skills involving the teaching of colleagues, the community, patients and their families.

  • Professional Development Assessment Tool (PDAT)
  • Summative Professional Assessment Tool (SPAT)
  • End of Year Written (end of didactic phase)
  • Summative II Written
  • End of Year OSCE (end of didactic phase)
  • Summative II OSCE
  • PANCE: Health Maintenance Task Area

Goal 11: Collaborate effectively as a member of an interprofessional health care team.

  • Interprofessional Didactic Encounter(s)
  • Preceptor Evaluation of Student Preparedness for Rotations
  • Professional Development Assessment Tool (PDAT)
  • Summative Professional Assessment Tool (SPAT)
  • End of Year Written (end of didactic phase)
  • Summative II Written
  • PANCE: Clinical Intervention Task Area

Goal 12: Promote commitment to provide effective, accessible, continuous, comprehensive and personalized primary and specialized medical care to all populations.

  • Preceptor Evaluation of Student Preparedness for Rotations
  • Supervised Clinical Practice Experience (SCPE) Clinical Notes
  • Professional Development Assessment Tool (PDAT)
  • Summative Professional Assessment Tool (SPAT)

 
Goal 13: Apply knowledge of study designs and statistical methods to the appraisal of clinical studies on diagnostic and therapeutic effectiveness and integrate evidence from scientific studies related to patients’ health problems.

  • Instruction in MPAS 591 Research, Epidemiology and Stats and passing grade.
  • Instruction in MPAS 692 Capstone I and passing grade.
  • Instruction in MPAS 693 Capstone II and passing grade.
  • Exit Survey

Goal 14: Demonstrate the ability to participate as PA leaders at the local, regional, state and national levels, shaping future policy and legislation to advance the PA profession.

  • Instruction in MPAS 550 Introduction to the PA Profession and passing grade.
  • Each student is required to attend at least one PA professional conference during their time in the program.
  • Each student will be a member of the Kentucky Academy of Physician Assistants (KAPA) and American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA).
  • The program will have a student society.
  • Exit Survey

Goal 15: Enter the workforce as a gainfully employed PA with job selection skills and knowledge to obtain and maintain PA state licensure.

  • Instruction in MPAS 550 Introduction to the PA Profession and passing grade.
  • Instruction in MPAS 680 Professional Development and passing grade.