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MASTERS OF SCIENCEPhysician Assistant Studies

Mission Statement

The mission of the Physician Assistant program at LTU is to train exceptional, compassionate healthcare professionals in a supportive academic and clinical environment. To prepare future PAs to provide outstanding holistic patient-centered care throughout the healthcare continuum, embrace diversity, invite interprofessional collaboration and approach the complex and ever changing face of technology in healthcare with confidence. To inspire a generation of clinicians to be lifelong learners dedicated to evidence-based medical practice. They will be passionate advocates of their patients, their profession and their community, and explore opportunities to serve underserved populations.

Vision

The Physician Assistant program at LTU embodies innovation, aligning with two core principles. Firstly, Theory and Practice education translates abstract concepts into real-world applications, preparing students to address future challenges. Secondly, the program emphasizes the seamless and proficient incorporation of healthcare technology into students' future practice, ensuring they are well-equipped for the evolving landscape of healthcare.

1. To achieve first-time PANCE pass rates that are at or above the national average and student confidence in their ability to succeed.

Criteria #1 PANCE Performance

Measures/Benchmark

  1. PANCE Performance 1 st   time test takers at or above national average

Success

CriteriaCohort 2024Nat’l Ave 2024Cohort 2025Nat’l Ave 2025Cohort 2026 Nat’l Ave 2026
PANCE Performance 1st time test takersNot Available

Criteria #2 – Student Confidence

Measures/Benchmarks

  1. Preceptor Evaluation of Student (Student Confidence)/   > 3.5 out of 5 for cohort average

Success

CriteriaCohort 2024Cohort 2025Cohort 2026
Preceptor Evaluation of Student (Student Confidence)In progress

2. To prepare students to actively and effectively participate in interprofessional healthcare teams and the care of diverse patient populations across the lifespan.

Criteria #1 Interprofessional Healthcare

Measures/Benchmarks

  1. Preceptor Evaluation of Student (Interprofessional Healthcare)/ >3.5 out of 5 for cohort average
  2. Student End of Didactic Phase evaluation (Preparation in Interprofessional Healthcare)/ > 3.5 out of 5 for cohort average
  3. Faculty Evaluation of Curriculum (Student Preparation in Interprofessional Healthcare)/ > 3.5 out of 5 for cohort average

CriteriaCohort 2024Cohort 2025Cohort 2026
Preceptor Evaluation of Student (Interprofessional Healthcare)
Student End of Didactic Phase evaluation (Preparation in Interprofessional Healthcare)4.27
Faculty Evaluation of Curriculum (Student Preparation in Interprofessional Healthcare)4.5
Criteria #2 Care for Diverse Patients

Measures/Benchmarks

  1. Preceptor Evaluation of Student (Care for Diverse Patients)/ > 3.5 out of 5 for cohort average
  2. Student End of Didactic Phase evaluation (Preparation in Care for Diverse Patients)/ > 3.5 out of 5 for cohort average
  3. Faculty Evaluation of Curriculum (Student Preparation in Care for Diverse Patients)/ > 3.5 out of 5 for cohort average

CriteriaCohort 2024Cohort 2025Cohort 2026
Preceptor Evaluation of Student (Care for Diverse Patients)
Student End of Didactic Phase evaluation (Preparation in Care for Diverse Patients)4.27
Faculty Evaluation of Curriculum (Student Preparation in Care for Diverse Patients)4.5

3. To prepare students to provide compassionate and patient centered care to patients across the lifespan.

Criteria #1 Compassionate care

Measures/Benchmarks

  1. Preceptor Evaluation of Student (Compassionate care)/ > 3.5 out of 5 for cohort average
  2. Student End of Didactic Phase evaluation (Preparation in Compassionate care)/ > 3.5 out of 5 for cohort average
  3. Faculty Evaluation of Curriculum (Student Preparation in Compassionate care)/ > 3.5 out of 5 for cohort average

Success

CriteriaCohort 2024Cohort 2025Cohort 2026
Preceptor Evaluation of Student (Compassionate care)
Student End of Didactic Phase evaluation (Preparation in Compassionate care)4.55
Faculty Evaluation of Curriculum (Student Preparation in Compassionate care)4.75
Criteria #2 Patient-centered Care

Measures/Benchmarks

  1. Preceptor Evaluation of Student (Patient-centered Care)/ > 3.5 out of 5 for cohort average
  2. Student End of Didactic Phase evaluation (Preparation in Patient-centered Care)/ > 3.5 out of 5 for cohort average
  3. Faculty Evaluation of Curriculum (Student Preparation in Patient-centered Care)/ > 3.5 out of 5 for cohort average
CriteriaCohort 2024Cohort 2025Cohort 2026
Preceptor Evaluation of Student (Patient-centered Care)
Student End of Didactic Phase evaluation (Preparation in Patient-centered Care)4.55
Faculty Evaluation of Curriculum (Student Preparation in Patient-centered Care)4.75

4. To create a culture of advocacy for the PA profession.

Criteria #1 Advocacy for PA Profession

Measures/Benchmarks

  1. Membership in the AAPA/ 100% of cohort
  2. Membership in the MAPA/ 100% of cohort
  3. Attendance at the state conference - MAPA/ >50% of cohort
CriteriaCohort 2024Cohort 2025Cohort 2026
Membership in the AAPA100%
Membership in the MAPA100%
Attendance at MAPA conference65.6%

5. To promote service to the university and surrounding community on behalf of faculty and students.

Criteria #1 Advocacy for Community

Measures/Benchmarks

  1. PA student community service in PA Program/ >30 hrs ave per cohort
  2. PA faculty service to university and or community/ 80% of principal  faculty

Success

CriteriaYear 2024Year 2025Year 2026
PA student community service hrs in PA Program In Progress  
Principal faculty service to University/community
 100%   

6. To prepare students to effectively utilize available healthcare technology in order to enhance patient care and better prepare them for future practice.

Criteria #1 Use of healthcare technology

Measures/Benchmarks

  1. Preceptor Evaluation of Student (Use of healthcare technology)/ > 3.5 out of 5 for cohort average
  2. Student End of Didactic Phase evaluation (Preparation in healthcare technology)/ > 3.5 out of 5 for cohort average
  3. Faculty Evaluation of Curriculum (Student Preparation in healthcare technology)/ > 3.5 out of 5 for cohort average

Success

CriteriaCohort 2024Cohort 2025Cohort 2026
Preceptor Evaluation of Student (Use of healthcare technology)   
Student End of Didactic Phase evaluation (Preparation in healthcare technology) 4.31  
Faculty Evaluation of Curriculum (Student Preparation in healthcare technology) 4.75  

LTU PA Program Competencies for New PA Graduates - Entry Level Practicing PA

The LTU PA Program identified the following competencies of new PA graduates at entry level practice to align with those expected in the PA profession. These competencies are monitored during the students’ education and are expected to be achieved by all graduates.

Clinical & Technical Skills (B4.03a)

Program graduates are expected to:

  1. Perform with competence clinical procedures common for a practicing PA and educate patients regarding procedure, side effects, follow-up care, and informed consent.
  2. Accurately document SOAP notes, orders and referrals to other specialty care providers using the Electronic Medical Record.
  3. Perform a problem focused and comprehensive physical examination recognizing normal and abnormal health states.
  4. Elicit a patient-centered problem-focused and comprehensive history taking into account cultural awareness.
  5. Recognize the signs of abuse and neglect in patients across the life span.

Clinical Reasoning & Problem-Solving Abilities (B4.03b)

Program graduates are expected to:

  1. Recognize emergent medical/surgical conditions versus non-emergent medical conditions by appropriately triaging patients.
  2. Foster preventive care including age-appropriate screening, immunization recommendations, patient education, behavioral modifications
  3. Order and interpret appropriate lab and diagnostic studies taking into account the financial implications for patients.
  4. Incorporate patient safety strategies, reduce medical errors and practice quality improvement in medical care.
  5. Develop management strategies for acute & chronic conditions for patients across the life span while encouraging goal setting.

Interpersonal Skills (B4.03c)

Program graduates are expected to:

  1. Communicate effectively with patients and families by utilizing patient-centered interpersonal skills that incorporate mutual respect with the patient.
  2. Perform patient education which considers health literacy and other social determinants and encourages treatment adherence and lifestyle modification.
  3. Effectively present patient information to supervising physicians and other healthcare providers.
  4. Practice interprofessional team care and embrace the value of a collaborative physician/PA relationship.
  5. Appropriately coordinate patient care while fostering patient advocacy.

Medical Knowledge (B4.03d)

Program graduates are expected to:

  1. Using the history and physical exam findings, develop a differential diagnosis for both acute and chronic medical conditions of a patient.
  2. Apply critical thinking and medical decision-making strategies to all aspects of patient care.
  3. Utilize medical knowledge of acute and chronic medical/behavioral health conditions including etiology, anatomy, pathophysiology, incidence, risk factors, clinical presentation, differential diagnosis, and treatment strategies to effectively manage a patient across the life span.
  4. Formulate a diagnosis which integrates clinical presentation, results of diagnostic tests and cultural and environmental aspects.
  5. Possess knowledge of commonly used pharmaceutical agents including indications, contraindications, dosing, side effects, drug interactions and costs to patients.

Professional Behaviors (B4.03e)

  1. Embrace professionalism in all aspects of clinical practice incorporating accountability, altruism, and patient confidentiality.
  2. Practice evidence-based medicine which incorporates life-long learning and current clinical guidelines.
  3. Possess a thorough understanding of medical ethics and the legal aspects of healthcare.
  4. Embrace the role of a physician assistant and recognize personal limitations and personal bias while practicing.
  5. Embrace cultural diversity including gender identity while providing compassionate medical care.

LTU PA student attrition and graduation rates


Graduated Classes
Class of 2024Class of 2025Class of 2026
Maximum entering class size (as approved by ARC-PA)303030
Entering class size2930TBD
GraduatesTBDTBDTBD
*Attrition rate0%0%N/A
**Graduation rateN/AN/AN/A

*Attrition rate calculation: Number of students who attritted from cohort divided by the entering class size
**Graduation rate: Number of cohort graduates divided by the entering class size
This inaugural cohort will begin on August 29th, 2022. Information on attrition will be updated to this table if any changes occur. Information on graduation rate will not be available until after graduation, September 2024

Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination Exam Performance Summary Report

Definitions of the report headings are provided at the end of the report. All information is current as of the date the report was generated unless otherwise specified.

ClassClass Graduation YearNumber of candidates who took the PANCENumber of Exams PassedProgram Exam Pass RateNational Exam Pass Rate for the Class Graduation Year% of Candidates Who Ultimately Passed PANCE
Class 20242024     
Class 20252025     
Class 20262026     
Class 20272027     
Class 20282028     

**Report update date: 06.16.2021

**All data will be reported prior to April 1 st of each year as required by ARC-PA standard A3.12c

Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination Exam Performance Summary Report

Definitions of Report Headings
ClassClass nomenclature and the individuals included in each class are determined by LTUs PA program when assigning students to a particular class
Class Graduation YearGraduation year for the majority of the individuals in the specific class based on the confirmed graduation date provided by LTU
Number of candidates who took the PANCENumber of individuals from the class who have taken the PANCE
Number of Exams PassedNumber of exams administered that resulted in a passing score
Program Exam Pass RatePercent of exams that were passed as compared to the number of exams that were administered to this class, including multiple exams taken by individual candidates if applicable
National Exam Pass Rate for the Class Graduation YearPercent of exams that were passed at the national level as compared to the number of exams that were administered. The calculation is based on the total number exams administered and passed, not the number of individual candidates. The reporting period is based on the calendar year corresponding with the class graduation year and will only be provided after the end of the current calendar year
% of Candidates in the Class Who Ultimately Passed the PANCE examPercent of candidates from the specified class that have passed PANCE as of the date the report was generated, regardless of the number of attempts or the calendar year in which the PANCE was passed

As a part of the NC-Sara Reciprocity agreement, Lawrence Technological University is required to disclose publicly, the educational requirements for professions that require a license or certification to practice in that field*. This disclosure is not affected by the method of delivery of the program: online, on ground or hybrid. The full list of programs and certificates and their satisfaction of requirements can be found in the table listed below and on each individual college website.

Current and prospective students are encouraged to contact the licensing board of the state or territory in which they wish to practice post-graduation for further information and possible additional requirements. State board links may be accessed through the link provided in the table to the various professional associations. The table below is a good faith effort to provide the most current information on Lawrence Technological University programs and their status with regards to individual state requirements. This table should not be viewed as a guarantee of licensure in a particular state as requirements subject to change by each individual state and territory.

*“Professional Licensure” or “Licensure” means: A process of state or other governmental entities that establishes standards of practice and gives legal permission to practice a profession by providing licenses or certifications to individuals who meet those standards. “NC-Sara Policy Manual, June 27, 2022. Volume 22.1

NC-Sara Professional Licensure - Physician Assistant [PDF]

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