Physician Assistant Science 107
Medications used to treat pathologies and the clinical implications for physical therapy will be reviewed. It will address how drug therapy interacts with the patients and how medications have both beneficial and adverse effects on rehabilitation of patients. This course will closely follow the clinical course sequence of GDPT822 and GDPT 825. GDPT 899 Independent Study (Elective) 3 credits This course allows students to enrich their knowledge and competency in an advanced area of interest related to PT practice. The student designs the learning experience(s) with guidance from the Independent Study Coordinator and a faculty member (content advisor) by means of a learning contract. Only the student’s motivation and the availability of the selected experience may limit the type of independent study experience. The independent study focuses on enrichment; a new and varied advanced learning opportunity. Students may not use independent study to remediate existing didactic or clinical deficiencies (i.e., incompletes or below mastery standing). It is the student’s responsibility to develop and carry out specific objectives defined through a learning contract. Through this learning experience, the student will acquire and demonstrate a new or enhanced body of knowledge. GTDPT 901 Foundation of Current and Future Practice (Elective) 2 credits This course provides an orientation of physical therapists to a doctoring profession, addressing the professional, interactive, ethical and managerial skills required to work in first-contact practice settings. Topics such as autonomous practice, direct access to health care systems, professional core values and ethics, collaboration and referral process, and professional social responsibility to the community and society will be covered.
Physician Assistant Science Department Chair: Michele M. Kauffman, JD, MPAS, PA-C
INTRODUCTION
Physician Assistants are skilled, dependent health practitioners who are academically and clinically prepared to provide patient care services under the supervision of a physician. Their specific tasks vary widely due to differences among state laws, hospital policies and utilization preferences of supervising physicians. Generally, PAs are qualified to obtain patient histories, perform comprehensive physical examinations, order and interpret diagnostic laboratory tests, prepare a diagnosis, implement a treatment plan for common illnesses, deliver patient education and counseling, perform certain surgical procedures, and provide emergency care. PAs may assist in surgery and deliver pre-operative and post-operative care. Physician Assistants may deliver patient care in any setting in which the physician works. The Physician Assistant Department offers a Master of Physician Assistant Science degree available through either a five-year undergraduate admission program or a post baccalaureate curriculum. The curriculum is predominantly clinical during the final year of the program. Adjunct regional medical faculty, in conjunction with various health care institutions, introduces the students to professional physician assistant training. Clinical sites are offered primarily in northwestern Pennsylvania, Ohio, and western New York, as well as some locations farther a field. Students are responsible for their own housing and transportation to and from clinical sites. The PA program curriculum of the Gannon University Physician Assistant Program is accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc.
OUTCOMES/OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of the Physician Assistant Program the student will be able to: • Perform a complete and accurate history and physical examination; identify abnormal findings and develop an appropriate differential diagnosis • Develop a plan of evaluation in support of the differential diagnosis, including specialized diagnostic imaging, and pathologic modalities