The Joint MSPAS/MPH Program has developed a set of technical standards that are required of all graduates.

Every applicant who seeks admission to the Joint MSPAS/MPH Program is expected to possess those intellectual, ethical, physical, and emotional capabilities required to undertake the full curriculum and achieve the levels of competence required by the faculty. Once enrolled in the program each candidate for the MSPAS/MPH degree must be able to integrate all information received, perform as a member of a physician-PA team, and demonstrate the ability to learn, integrate, analyze and synthesize information and data. The Joint MSPAS/MPH Program will make every effort to provide reasonable accommodations for physically challenged students, however in doing so, the program must maintain the integrity of its curriculum and preserve those elements deemed essential to the acquisition of knowledge in all areas of medicine, including the demonstration of basic skills requisite for the practice of medicine.

Accordingly, the program requires each student to meet certain technical requirements.

1. Observation: Students must have sufficient vision to be able to observe demonstrations, experiments, and laboratory exercises in the basic sciences. They must be able to observe a patient accurately at a distance and close at hand.

2. Communication: Students must be able to speak, hear, and observe in order to elicit information, examine patients, describe changes in mood, activity, and posture, and perceive non-verbal communication. Communication includes not only speech, but also reading and writing. They must also be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in oral and written form with all members of the health care team.

3. Motor Function: Students must have sufficient motor function and execute movements reasonably required to provide general care and emergency treatment to patients. Examples of emergency treatment reasonably required for physician assistants are cardiopulmonary resuscitation, administration of intravenous medication, the application of pressure to stop bleeding, the opening of obstructed airways, and the suturing of simple wounds. Such actions require coordination of both gross and fine muscular movements, equilibrium, and functional use of the senses of touch and vision.

4. Sensory: Since PA students need enhanced ability in their sensory skills, it will be necessary to evaluate for candidacy those individuals who are otherwise qualified, but who have significant tactile sensory or proprioceptive disabilities. This includes individuals with previous burns, sensory motor defects and malformations of upper extremities.

5. Mobility: Mobility to attend to emergencies and to perform procedures such as CPR is required.

6. Visual Integration: Consistent with ability to assess asymmetry, range of motion, and tissue color and texture changes, it is essential for the evaluation and treatment of the patient.

7. Intellectual, Conceptual, Integrative, and Quantitative Abilities: The student must be able to demonstrate ability in measurement, calculation, reasoning, comparison and contrasts, analysis and synthesis, and problem solving.

8. Behavioral and Social Abilities: Students must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of their intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, the prompt completion of all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients, and the development of mature, sensitive relationships with patients and co-workers. Students must be able to tolerate physically and mentally taxing workloads, adapt to changing environments, display flexibility, and learn to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in treating patients’ problems. Demonstration of compassion, respect, integrity, concern for others, sound interpersonal skills, interest, and a motivation to provide care to a diverse patient population and with different lifestyles will be assessed during the admissions and education process. Students must also possess the ability to work effectively as a team member.

9. Participation in Physical Diagnosis and Skill Laboratories: Active participation in physical diagnosis and skill laboratories is an admission, matriculation, and graduation requirement. The development of diagnostic and procedural skills is taught in the first year courses. This learning requires active participation in all laboratory sessions. During the first year in the laboratory setting, a variety of people representing both genders and individuals with different body types to simulate the diversity of patients expected in the practice setting will be examined. Being examined by other students helps the student appreciate how the examination feels from the patient’s perspective, and enables students to provide feedback to their laboratory partners, thus enhancing their skills. Reading and observation, although helpful, do not develop the skill required to perform the basic physical examination. Each student is required to actively participate in all skills and development laboratory sessions.