PA Profession Success Plan A HRSA Title VII Grant Funding Project

1. PA Profession Success Plan A HRSA Title VII Grant Funding Project

2. Physician Assistants (PAs) are licensed health professionalswho: • Practice medicine with physician supervision • Exercise independence in medical decision making • Provide a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services • Perform educational, research, and administrative activities

3. Why PA? Why not NP or MD? • Physician satisfaction • Patient satisfaction • Flexibility in practice choice • Increased time for patient care • PA is no longer the “default” choice

4. Job Satisfaction80% of PAs were satisfied with: • Amount of responsibility • Support • Job Security • Working hours • Task variety • Salaries • Fringe Benefits In comparison, PAs were more satisfied than other health professionals including physicians and nurse practitioners Public Health Rep 1995 110(6);714-719

5. Practice Choice Flexibility • Certification is in Primary Medicine • Recertification every 6 years in Primary Medicine ensures the ability of a PA to continue to practice in a variety of practice settings • Certification specific to a specialty practice is not necessary • PAs can “change” specialties without needing additional formalized education • Post-graduate education is available for those who seek it

6. PAs by Specialty Family/General Medicine 24.9% Other-- 15.3% Emergency Medicine 10.3% Obstetrics/ Gynecology 2.4% Internal Medicine & IM Subspecialties 18.2% Surgery & Surgical Subspecialties 24.9% Pediatrics & Pediatric Subspecialties 4.0% Source: AAPA, 2007 Census www.aapa.org

7. PAs Practice Medicine • Perform physical exams and take patient histories • Diagnose and treat illnesses • Order and interpret laboratory tests • Assist in surgery, work in ER, nursing homes • Write prescriptions • Provide patient education and counseling

8. Wisconsin’s Rural and Underserved Population Situation • Current shortage of primary care physicians in rural and inner-city Wisconsin • By 2015 an additional 13.5% shortage for primary care practitioners in these same areas • The population of WI is projected to increase 8.5%, worsening the clinician:patient shortfall American Hospital Association Taskforce on Physician Shortage

9. UW-Madison PA Program’s response to Wisconsin’s situation • Recruit, successfully enroll, and retain students from rural, underserved and disadvantaged populations, who demonstrate interest and promise to provide healthcare to these populations upon program completion • Train students for practice in rural, underserved and disadvantaged environments • Place graduates into these underserved areas via community partnership and commitment.

10. Past application barriers: • Admissions processes sometimes inadvertently create hurdles for students of rural or underrepresented origin • GPA does not always accurately reflect a student’s abilities • Heavy academic load of the curriculum may impedes a student’s success • Student confidence is sometimes lacking and is a marker of success

11. UW-Madison PA Program Solution: The PA Profession Success Plan Formalizing what we do with all students

12. Components of the PA Profession Success Plan • Recruitment of promising students from Wisconsin • A Pre-entry program for promising students who do not gain admission on first attempt • A mentoring program pairing potential enrollees with a mentor to strengthen application materials • Flexible training options to allow students to remain in their community during the program • Resources: before admission and after enrolled

13. Recruitment • Universities, community and technical colleges, Wisconsin schools • Health care occupations counselors /advisors • Community Practice Advisory Council (CPAC) recommendations • Ideal candidates are identified and referred to UW PA Program faculty • Candidates guaranteed interview during the admissions process

14. Candidate Identification • From rural or urban underserved areas • Have aptitude for the health sciences • Interested in returning to their home community after completion of the program • Of minority status; or disadvantaged: economically or educationally

15. Essential demonstrated student attributes • Interest in healthcare • Motivation to succeed • Humility • Integrity • Educational promise

16. Pre-Entry Program Re-Applicants • Applicants may be advised to: • Retake specific coursework • Take new coursework • Acquire additionalpatient experience • Shadow PAs in the clinical field • Improve their application/interview by other means

17. Mentoring Program • Students identified will be paired with: • Community mentor • PA Program mentor • PA student/alumni mentor Mentors will: • Provide advisement and support throughout the admission process and enrollment

18. Flexible Training Options • Campus-based learning option - A 24 month full-time academic program • Community-based (distance education) learning option - A 36 month part-time academic program allowing student to stay in their home community during much of the educational period

19. Resource Guidance • Guidance to resources both on-campus and within their home communities • Students complete a self-inventory of needs • Based on this self-assessment, students are provided resources to help meet those needs

20. Academic Prerequisites • Zoology or Mammalian Biology w/ lab • Anatomy and Physiology • Biomolecular Chemistry or Human Biochemistry • General Chemistry • Microbiology • Psychology • Statistics B.S. degree required; all prerequisite coursework must be accomplished with a grade of “C” or better

21. Basic Admissions Criteria • Academic Performance • Healthcare Experience • Community Service • References • Interviews

22. Working together in maximizing student success • Please identify promising candidates • Continue encouragement and support • Recommend these individuals to us • Serve as a mentor to promising candidates Program Website: www.physicianassistant.wisc.edu Thank you!