DIDACTIC YEAR CALENDAR

Holidays as per university academic calendar

Semester begins September 6, 2022

Semester ends December 20, 2022

Spring 2023 (13-15 weeks)

Semester begins Jan 3, 2023

Holidays and spring break as per university academic calendar

Semester ends April 14, 2022

Summer 2023 (13-15 weeks)

Semester begins May 1, 2023

Holidays as per university academic calendar

Semester ends August 11, 2023

Research Semester Calendar

A detailed calendar will be distributed prior to the start of the research semester. Students should plan on being on campus for the entire semester. The semester typically runs from early September to the late December.

Program Policy

Work Policy

The program strongly discourages any type of outside employment during the course of studies in the program. Program responsibilities are not negotiable and will not be altered due to student work obligations. Furthermore, working has been a chief cause for academic difficulty in past years.

Students who choose to volunteer or be paid employees during the course of their physician assistant training cannot use their affiliation with the program in any aspect of that employment. Any activity undertaken by the student, independent of the program, is not covered by the liability insurance offered for clinical work associated with physician assistant training. Students are not permitted to perform clerical or administrative work for the program.

Students may not substitute for regular clinical or administrative staff during the clinical year. Should such a request be made of a student, it should be reported to the program director immediately.

E-mail is the preferred mode of communication between the program faculty/staff and students. All students must use their Hofstra e-mail account and must check and reply to their emails on a DAILY basis. Additionally, students should empty mailboxes to allow for regular e-mail from program staff and faculty. Failure to check an e-mail account is not an allowable excuse for missing a program event or notification.

Groupme

A GroupMe communication chain will be set up to include students from the CO 2024, faculty, and staff. The purpose of GroupMe communication is to send group messages quickly and efficiently. Last minute calendar changes from faculty/staff will utilize this platform. Students should NOT communicate individually with faculty and staff via GroupMe. In addition, notifications of tardiness or absence are not appropriate via GroupMe platform and should be reserved for email communication.

Transportation

Throughout the didactic, clinical, and research phases of the curriculum, opportunities to participate in clinical or research experiences in medical settings will require travel off campus. Transportation to hospitals, clinics, and other community settings, and the associated cost, is the student’s responsibility.

Identification

Students must display their Hofstra University or clinical site photo identification on their person in a clearly visible location while in the clinical setting. All students must identify themselves as a “physician assistant (PA) student” to patients and medical staff. Under no circumstance should a student encourage or fail to correct the misconception that they are a physician or a medical student. Students answering pages or phone calls must use their title when answering.

Program Calendars

The Program provides students with a calendar specific to program curricular needs. Unless otherwise specified in the syllabus or on the calendar, all activities on the calendar are mandatory.

Changes In The Calendar

Due to unforeseen circumstances, a class may be cancelled and/or changed. This class may be rescheduled in the evening, on previously designated “study days,” or on weekends. In addition, the class may be rescheduled to be delivered remotely, during the same time as the original class or during an alternate time. The Course Coordinator/Instructor will take all conflicts into consideration when rescheduling. However, students are expected to attend all rescheduled classes and will be held responsible for the material covered in that class.

Orientation

To assure all students receive the information necessary to be successful in advancing throughout the curriculum, orientation sessions found on a Program calendar are mandatory.

Community Service

Supporting the Program and University Mission and Goals, the faculty and staff highlight the importance of awareness of the community around you and the need to be an active member of your community locally, within the state, and nationally. Further, health care professionals have the skills and are uniquely qualified to support our community. To emphasize this, you will see many activities and opportunities on the Program calendar that support this initiative. The Hofstra SAAAPA organization also often initiates several activities that may or may not be on the Program calendar. In all cases, students are highly encouraged to attend and/or expected that you attend these outreach activities. Mandatory sessions are designated as such on the calendar.

Health Insurance

Health insurance is mandatory for all students while enrolled in the physician assistant program. All students will need to supply the program with proof of health insurance; at the beginning of the didactic, clinical, and research year. The insurance policy must cover students in the event of illness or injury including that may result from patient care. If a health condition arises during the course of study that would in any way alter a student’s ability to perform in the clinical setting, it is the student’s responsibility to notify the Director of the Department of` Physician Assistant Studies immediately.

Domestic students who would like to purchase insurance coverage can go to the federal insurance exchange at www.healthcare.gov to find available health plans in the state where they permanently reside. If the permanent residence is outside of New York, it will be important to select a PPO plan that offers coverage throughout the United States, so that health care expenses are covered in the area near our university. International students should visit the International Student Affairs at https://www.hofstra.edu/studentaffairs/international/insurance.html. Students should contact the Student Health and Counseling Center at SHACC@hofstra.edu or 516-463-6745 with further advice on obtaining healthcare insurance.

Students are encouraged to use the Student Health and Counseling Center at Hofstra. Services offered to enrolled students are generally free or very low cost regardless of insurance coverage.

Health Clearance

All students must be medically cleared as evidenced by a health care provider who has determined their fitness to perform physician assistant student functions. This verification must be provided at the beginning of the didactic and clinical year. Additionally, supplemental health clearance documents must be completed in order for students to participate in clinical year clerkships. Depending on research project location, health clearance documents may be required prior to beginning the research semester. The potential cost associated with health clearance is the responsibility of the student.

As determined by the New York State Department of Health and as per CDC requirements, students should be aware that the influenza vaccine is now required for all hospital personnel including students. If a student declines to be vaccinated against influenza, a declination form must be completed and the student must wear a mask in all clinical arenas or comply with the policies set forth by the clinical site. Documentation of vaccination must be submitted to the PA Program main office during each influenza season (fall semester) while enrolled.

Immunization requirements are in accordance with the most current Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations for health care professionals. Students should be aware that some clinical or research site requirements exceed CDC recommendations. Student health records are confidential and must not be accessible to program faculty or staff with the exception of immunization and tuberculosis screening results which are maintained and released with written permission of the student. Therefore, students are required to keep their own medical information and present it at the beginning of each clinical clerkship or research site.

Program Faculty And Student Health Care

No faculty member, including the program director and the medical director, are permitted to provide health care for Hofstra PA Students, except in an emergency situation. Provision of health care includes giving medical advice in this instance. Program faculty are, however, able to refer students for medical and mental health care, if needed. If necessary, students may be referred to the Student Health Center (https://www.hofstra.edu/student-health-services/) or to Student Counseling Services (https://www.hofstra.edu/student-counseling-services/).

Confidentiality

In compliance with The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 and Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant Accreditation Standards, student materials, grades, records, and files are considered privileged and confidential. All student records are stored in locked files when not in use. Faculty and clerical staff are the only individuals who have access to these files. No information contained within a student record will be given, either verbally or in writing, without the written consent of the student. Written consent for release of records will be kept in the student file. Written clearance is also necessary for the release of any medical information as discussed in the health clearance section of the Handbook. The following link provides the FERPA release form to be used for release of student’s materials, grades, records and files.

http://www.hofstra.edu/StudentAffairs/StudentServices/AcademicRecords/acdrec_ferpa.html

Patient Rights And Confidentiality

All information regarding a patient’s health is privileged information. All students must strictly adhere to each institution’s policy governing patient rights and confidentiality and to all federal, state and local regulations. Students must not discuss any information regarding a patient in a manner or location that might reveal the 16 identification of the patient to individuals not directly involved in that patient’s care. For this reason, all students must complete HIPAA training and provide proof of completion before entrance to the PA Program.

Patient charts, inclusive of progress notes or lab reports, must not be removed from the clinical site by the physician assistant student. If photocopies of a patient’s record are needed for a program assignment, all information that might identify the patient must be removed, omitted, or deleted to protect patient confidentiality.

Student Teaching In Program Curriculum

Some students may be particularly knowledgeable in an area of medicine or possess advanced clinical skills because of prior health care related experience. Although such expertise is commendable, PA students are not permitted to participate in the teaching of any component of the curriculum.

Student Advisement

Each student is assigned a faculty advisor who is available for counsel on matters concerning academic performance, professional behavior, or personal issues. Formal student advisement will occur at a minimum of twice during the program, once in the academic year, and once during the clinical year. Professional development is assessed on an ongoing basis but formally, at a minimum, once during the didactic year. Problems arising within a course should be addressed directly with the instructor, although the advisor may offer assistance in these cases as well.

Personal issues identified by students or by faculty that impact performance in the program must be addressed in a timely manner. Should a student become concerned about a personal matter, they should contact his/her advisor or the program director. The faculty can facilitate the acquisition of services either within Hofstra University or privately. Student services are available at the Student Health and Counseling Center.

FACULTY-STUDENT MEETINGS

Throughout the program, classes will periodically meet with the faculty to discuss issues that arise with the Program, including within individual courses and with the Hofstra University infrastructure. These meetings are mandatory. At the beginning of the meeting both the faculty and students will establish an agenda. Students may approach the director regarding agenda items at any time and, if appropriate, these items will be brought forward to the meeting. Students may discuss issues of a more personal nature with the director or their faculty advisor in private at any time.

Clinical Clerkships

At no time are students required to provide or solicit their own clinical sites or preceptors.

Student Initiated Clerkships

Students occasionally wish to study in a clinical site that is not affiliated with the program. Students may initiate a maximum of two clerkships (with one being their elective clerkship). Students may initiate a clerkship if they are in good academic standing and adhere to the following protocol:

1. Requests for clerkship sites outside of the University’s normal affiliation must meet all requirements as outlined by the clerkship description and affiliation agreement contract.

2. The student may make the initial contact with the site to identify a potential preceptor. The clinical coordinators will mana,ge remaining negotiations and execution of the affiliation agreement process. A minimum of three students per year is strongly recommended of all student-initiated clerkships. In hospital settings, this process can take several months. Therefore, the initial affiliation process must be initiated in the didactic year.

3. All non-Hofstra rotations must be approved prior to the start of that rotation.

4. No more than 2 student-initiated clerkships for the entire clinical year will be permitted.

5. The Program cannot guarantee the approval of student-initiated clerkships.

6. The use of family members or personal acquaintances as preceptors is prohibited.

Universal Precautions

Students enrolled in the PA program will participate in caregiving activities. During these activities, exposure to communicable diseases, including, but not limited to, Hepatitis B (“HBV”), Tuberculosis (“TB”), Human Immunodeficiency Virus (“HIV”), SARS-Cov-2 (COVID-19), and Ebola Virus is possible. By enrolling in the PA program, students understand that they may contract a communicable disease while acting as a caregiver. Thus, healthcare professionals must understand that an infectious or environmental hazard exposure can adversely affect their overall health as well as performance in the PA Program.

There are several measures healthcare professionals, including PA students, should take to reduce the risk of exposure. All PA students must complete a training session for healthcare professionals in infection control/universal precautions approved by the New York State Department of Health before entering the program. A certificate of completion must be kept by the student and provided to any clinical site requesting a copy. For additional information on universal precautions, please refer to www.cdc.gov.

The principle of universal precautions has been adopted to protect clinicians from exposure to infectious disease because any patient may harbor microorganisms that could cause infection if transmitted. Although bloodborne pathogens are of particular concern, all bodily fluids, secretions, and excretions are included in universal precautions. Since infected patients may be asymptomatic, it becomes necessary to use basic precautions with every patient. Observance of universal precautions will help to provide better protection for every staff member. Students must also follow the hospital/clinical site-specific policies regarding universal precautions. The material below reviews guidelines and preventative techniques.

Should any expense be incurred as a result of an exposure, the student is responsible for all costs related to the incident.

Universal Precautions Guidelines and Prevention Methods:

1. Avoid direct contact with: blood, body fluids, secretions, excretions, mucous membranes, non-intact skin, and lesions.

2. Avoid injuries from all sharp objects such as needles or scalpels.

3. Avoid direct contact with items, objects, and surfaces contaminated with blood, body fluids, secretions, and excretions.

4. Dispose of all sharp objects promptly in special puncture resistant containers.

5. Dispose of all contaminated articles and materials in a safe manner prescribed by law.

In practice, using Universal Precautions also requires:

1. Wash hands frequently and thoroughly, especially if they become contaminated with blood, bodily fluids, secretions, and excretions.

2. Depending on job duties and risk of exposure, use appropriate barriers, which can include: gloves, gowns, aprons, caps, shoe covers, leggings, masks, goggles, face shields, and resuscitation devices.

These barriers are to be used to protect: a. Skin, especially non-intact skin (where there are cuts, chapping, abrasions, or any other break in the skin). b. Mucous membranes, especially eyes, nose and mouth.

NOTE: The items of protective apparel, including gloves, are to be removed after each use and are to be PROPERLY disposed of. Gloves, etc. are NOT to be worn from one patient or activity to another.

Exposure Policy And Incident Reporting

An exposure incident is defined as a specific eye, mouth, other mucous membrane, or nonintact skin contact with any potentially infectious material. Students should be aware that an infectious or environmental hazard exposure can adversely affect their overall health as well as performance in the Program.

1. Immediately wash exposed skin area with soap and water. If eyes are exposed, immediately flush with water. For mouth or other mucous membrane exposures, rinse with large amounts of water.

2. If the exposure occurs on a clinical clerkship, the student shall IMMEDIATELY REPORT the incident to the Preceptor or clinician student is working with. The student will follow the institutional infectious and environmental hazard policy, including completing all necessary documentation as required and proceed to step 5. The student is required to report the incident via telephone and email to one of the clinical coordinators as soon as possible but no later than 24 hours following the incident.

3. If exposure occurs on the Hofstra University campus, the student shall IMMEDIATELY REPORT the incident to the course instructor. The course instructor should call Public Safety to report the incident. The number to call from a cell phone is: 516-463-6606 / Campus landline phone: x36606. If the source individual is another student or faculty member, they will be instructed to call Student Health Services at 516-463-6745 prior before reporting to Wellness and Campus Living Center for determination of infectious disease status and proceed to step 6.

4. If exposure occurs at the Northwell Bioskills lab, the student shall IMMEDIATELY REPORT the incident to the course instructor. The course instructor will ensure the student irrigates and cleans the affected area. The course instructor will notify Northwell staff. The course instructor will ask Northwell staff for a copy of the Anatomy Gifts Registry specimen data sheet. The student must call Student Health Services at 516-463-6745 before reporting to Wellness and Campus Living Center and proceed to step 6.

5. The student must go to the nearest Hospital Emergency Department immediately after the incident to receive counseling, a physical examination, blood testing, and post-exposure prophylaxis if deemed appropriate by the health care provider. If possible, arrangements should be made to determine infectious disease state of the source person. This is generally done through established institutional protocols that are initiated by health care provider evaluating student post exposure. Although this is recommended, this is not a requirement and should not delay post exposure management. In the absence of known source person status, risk assessment of the severity of exposure and HIV status of the source person should be completed by healthcare provider to determine post exposure management.

6. The Exposure Incident Investigation Form should first be filled out by the student as much as possible, ensuring details are included as well as recommendations for avoiding repetition, and then reviewed and signed by an Academic Coordinator if the incident occurred on campus or at the Northwell Bioskills lab, or a Clinical Coordinator if occurred on a clinical clerkship. This form must be completed and signed in person or virtually by the appropriate faculty member within 24-48 hours of exposure. The form is available in all program handbooks, including electronically on Exxat and at http://www.hofstra.edu/academics/colleges/nursing-physicianassistant/physician-assistant/physician-assistant-handbooks.html.

7. A copy of the Exposure Incident Investigation Form, Post-Exposure Evaluation and Follow-up Checklist, and Emergency Department Discharge Papers (if applicable) should be brought to Hofstra University Student Health Services Center within 24-48 hours of exposure. In response to precautionary changes on campus associated with COVID-19, Student Health Services has implemented a phone triage system and requires all students to call first at 516-463-6745. When appropriate, clinicians may recommend an in-person evaluation. Hofstra University Student Health Services Center will complete the Post-Exposure Evaluation and Follow-Up Checklist. Follow-up is confidential. The Student Health Services Center hours of operation, services, and personnel information can be found at: http://www.hofstra.edu/StudentAffairs/StudentServices/welctr/index.html

8. The Academic Coordinator or Clinical Coordinator will review all pertinent documents and place a copy of the Exposure Incident Investigation Form into the student’s file and provide a copy to the PA Program Director as soon as possible.

FOR DUAL-DEGREE STUDENTS: AWARDING OF A BACCALAUREATE DEGREE

Students who complete 126 semester hours of course work and all Hofstra University undergraduate degree requirements are eligible for the B.S. degree. Students should file for graduation only at the end of the spring semester of the didactic (fourth) year. Students in years 1-4 of the program will be eligible for undergraduate financial aid and all relevant undergraduate awards (only until a Bachelor of Science degree is earned); students enrolled in years 5-6 will be eligible for graduate financial aid and all relevant graduate-level awards. Students are not eligible either to sit for the PANCE exam or to receive the M.S. degree until all requirements for the M.S. degree are fulfilled, including completion of the professional phase of the program.

Students who complete 126 semester hours of course work and all Hofstra University undergraduate degree requirements are eligible for the B.S. degree. Students should file for graduation at the end of the spring semester of the didactic (fourth) year, as long as they have completed the 126 semester hours. Students will be eligible for undergraduate financial aid until the bachelor degree is awarded. Scholarship will continue for a total of eight semester’s terms (fall, and spring only), and stop at the end of the 4th year spring semester. Students will be eligible for graduate financial aid after the bachelor’s degree is awarded. Students are not eligible either to sit for the PANCE exam or to receive the M.S. degree until all requirements for the M.S. degree are fulfilled, including completion of the professional phase of the program.

Mentor Program Policy

The mentor program has been established to provide positive reinforcement, support and encouragement to junior students. Promoting a sense of comradery and to establish a mechanism to improve networking are also goals of the Mentor Program. Mentors and PAs serve as role models and should therefore uphold high ethical and moral actions and values. Thus, the mentor program should not be used to transfer examination questions, 20 notes that have any examination information on them, or otherwise violate the academic honesty policy. Additionally, information regarding case studies, OSCE cases, CSP cases, or any of the like should not be shared with other classmates. Keep in mind, individuals can, will, and have taken screen shots of conversations had via text, email, or any other form of writing, and submitted it to program faculty and staff. Any violation of the academic honesty policy or any other professional infraction will result in a meeting with the Academic Standing Committee and likely dismissal from the program.

Students will be assigned a mentor from the class one year ahead of incoming students. A list of the mentor/mentee list will be submitted to the program director by the end of the first week of class and cannot be altered without the program director’s knowledge.