A 3.15e: The program must define, publish and make readily available to prospective students related information to include: any technical standards for enrollment.
In accord with federal regulations established by the Americans With Disabilities Act, the following standards are described to assist each candidate in evaluating his/her prospect for academic and clinical success. General standards for the MPAP program are followed by standards that apply to the professional discipline to which you have applied (see additional standards below). When a student's ability to perform is compromised, the student must demonstrate alternative means and/or abilities to perform the essential functions described.
It is important that you read each standard carefully. Each student is given the opportunity to read and acknowledge their understanding of the standards prior to beginning of the program.
Technical Standards
Physician Assistants, as health care providers, must be able to combine their acquisition of medical knowledge with their skills, behavior, and attitudes in order to deliver appropriate patient care. The University of Dayton is committed to admitting the most qualified applicants for the PA program which in addition to academic criteria, include the following technical standards. These standards are a prerequisite for admission, progression, and completion of the program.
The University of Dayton complies with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, and the ADA Amendments Act (ADAAA) of 2008 (see University bulletin, Office of Student Learning Services for details).
Technical skills/standards are grouped in the five categories listed below. All students must be able to perform these skills independently; therefore third parties cannot be used to assist students in achieving these requirements. Reasonable accommodation for persons with documented disabilities will be considered on an individual basis. It is the student's responsibility to review the technical standards and report any needs to the program director.
Observation
Candidates and students must be able to observe and actively participate in all demonstrations and experiments in the basic medical and clinical sciences, including observations made through a microscope and demonstrations made in the classroom using standardized or classmate patient-models.
Candidates and students must be able to observe a patient accurately and completely both at a distance and up close, noting both verbal and nonverbal signs.
Communication
Candidates and students must possess the ability to comprehend written English at a level sufficient to adequately evaluate technical materials, medical reports, biomedical texts and journals.
Candidates and students are expected to be able to communicate, both verbally and in writing, the results of their examination to the patient and to their colleagues with accuracy, clarity, and efficiency.
Candidates and students must be able to accurately and legibly document observations and plans in a thorough and timely manner.
Sensory and Motor Functions
Candidates and students must have sufficient use of somatic sensation and the senses of vision, hearing and smell to perform the inspection, palpation, auscultation and percussion components of the physical examination.
Candidates and students must possess the gross and fine motor coordination skills necessary to learn and perform routine invasive and noninvasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
Candidates and students should be able to perform the physical activities needed to provide general and emergency care for patients. This may include, but not be limited to, activities such as bending, lifting, carrying and prolonged standing.
Intellectual Conceptualization, Integration, and Quantitation
Candidates and students must be able to learn to quantify, analyze, integrate, synthesize, problem solve, and reach diagnostic and therapeutic judgments in a timely manner.
Candidates and students must be able to learn and to demonstrate the ability to recognize limitations in their own knowledge, skills, and abilities and seek appropriate assistance with their identified limitations.
Behavioral and Social Attributes
Candidates and students must be able to work collaboratively with their classmates to sustain a noncompetitive learning atmosphere with their colleagues and patients to develop collaborative professional relationships.
Candidates and students must possess the endurance to tolerate physically taxing workloads and to function effectively under stress. At times this may require working for extended periods of time or with rotating shift schedules.
Candidates and students must possess the emotional health needed to fully use their intellectual abilities, exercise good judgment, and act promptly and appropriately in emergency situations.
Candidates and students must be able to adapt to changing environments and to display flexibility in the face of uncertainties inherent in the training process and the practice of medicine.
Candidates and students are expected to willingly accept and invite constructive criticism and, if necessary, subsequently adopt appropriate modifications in their behavior.
Professional Responsibility
Students must exhibit the ability to meet the challenges of any medical situation that requires a readiness for immediate and appropriate response without interference of personal or medical problems. This requires training for emergencies (e.g., CPR, ACLS, PALS, ADLS).
It is each student's responsibility to attend and be able to travel to and from classes and clinical assignments on time, and possess the organizational skills and stamina for performing required tasks and assignments within allotted time frames. This involves frequent oral, written, and practical examinations.
Students will exhibit adherence to policies of the university, their program, and clinical sites. This includes matters ranging from professional grooming, dress, and behavior, to attending to their program's academic schedule, which may differ from the University's academic calendar and be subject to change at any time.
Students must demonstrate knowledge of and commitment to the code of ethics of their profession and behavior. Students will take initiative to direct their own learning. Students will work cooperatively and collaboratively with other students on assigned projects, and participate willingly in a supervisory process involving evaluation of abilities and reasoning skills.
Students will be expected to perform physical examinations on male and female peers along with being examined by both male and female peers during laboratory instruction.