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Immunizations and Technical Standards

Students are required to complete the Health Status Verification & Technical Standards Form with a health care provider and return it to the program within 30 days of their acceptance. Candidates for the Physician Assistant Program must be able to perform in a reasonably independent manner without the use of trained intermediaries:

Immunizations: All candidates accepted to the program are required to have current immunizations and titers. Please refer to the Immunizations Form for specific requirements.

General Abilities: Candidate is expected to possess functional use of the senses of vision, touch, hearing, taste and smell. In addition, the candidate is expected to possess the ability to perceive pain, pressure, temperature, position, equilibrium and movement.

Observation: Candidate is expected to participate in and observe demonstrations and experiments in basic and clinical sciences (including computer assisted instruction) and must be able to observe a patient accurately at a distance and close at hand.

Communication: Candidate must be able to communicate accurately and with clarity in speech and written forms, with appropriate respect and sensitivity toward faculty, patients and all members of the health care team.

Motor: Candidate is expected to possess gross and fine motor movements required to perform complete physical examination. Candidate must have sufficient motor function to elicit information from patients by palpation, auscultation, percussion and other diagnostic maneuvers. Candidates must also possess fine motor skills that allow for routine procedures and handwritten documentation of the medical record.

Problem-solving: Candidate is expected to have critical thinking abilities. This includes the ability to measure, calculate, analyze and synthesize data to reach diagnostic and therapeutic judgments.

Clinical Skills: Candidate is expected to be able to learn and perform routine laboratory tests, diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.

Behavioral Attributes: Candidate must possess the emotional health necessary for full utilization of their intellectual abilities, the exercise of sound judgment, the prompt completion of responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients and the development of mature, sensitive and effective relationships with faculty, clinical staff and patients.

Physical Attributes: Candidate must have the stability and capacity to function in a competent manner in clinic, hospital, classroom and laboratory settings that may involve varying shift schedules, sitting or standing for extended hours, long hours (up to 80 hours per week), assisting in surgery, assist in lifting patients and stressful situations. The candidate must be able to adapt to changing environments and to learn to function in the face of the uncertainties inherent in the clinical problems of many patients. Candidate must be able to remain fully alert and attentive at all times while in a clinical environment.

Judgment and Stability:  Candidate must be able to learn and demonstrate the ability to recognize limitations to their knowledge, skills and abilities; and to seek appropriate assistance with their identified limitations. Candidate must be able to learn to respond with precise, efficient and appropriate action in emergency situations.

Transportation: During the Clinical Year, the student must be able to attain transportation to a variety of clinical rotation settings in a timely manner.

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