Technical Standards

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The PA program at The University of Southern Mississippi is a demanding and concentrated program that places detailed and specific requirements on the students enrolled in the program. The Program’s purpose for outlining these standards is to ensure graduates are prepared for professional-level employment in a variety of settings and render care to a wide spectrum of individuals. The technical standards set forth by the PA program establish the essential qualities considered necessary for students admitted to this program to achieve the knowledge, skills, and abilities of a PA, as well as meet the expectations of the program’s accrediting agency (Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant [ARC-PA]).

All students admitted to the program are expected to continually demonstrate the technical standards specified below. These technical standards are required for admission, participation, and progression in the program and must be maintained through graduation. Compliance with the technical standards does not guarantee students’ eligibility for the Physician Assistant National Certification Exam (PANCE).

The following standards consist of certain minimum physical and cognitive abilities as well as sufficient behavioral stability to ensure students can complete the entire course of study and participate fully in all aspects of the academic and clinical curriculum. Every physician assistant student must be able to perform independently, with or without reasonable accommodation. Each applicant or student must adhere to the following standards:

1. Possess the ability to assimilate and learn a large amount of complex, technical and detailed information; to solve clinical problems; and to synthesize and apply concepts and information from various disciplines.
2. Possess adequate neuromuscular and sensory function, and coordination to perform appropriate physical examinations using standard techniques including (but not limited to): inspection, palpation, percussion, auscultation.
3. Understand, communicate and document clearly, accurately and efficiently in English.
4. Possess adequate skills to perform common therapeutic procedures (such as drawing blood, suturing, etc.) and use equipment such as medical and surgical instruments Accurately and safely during the assessment and treatment of patients.
5. Communicate effectively and sensitively with patients, peers, faculty members, supervisors, preceptors, and other members of the healthcare team.
6. Maintain composure and emotional stability during periods of high stress.
7. Fully participate in program scheduled learning and assessment activities, active learning environments, or clinical learning activities (rotations) that may occur outside traditional classroom hours (including all times of the day/night or weekend obligations).
8. Demonstrate flexibility (cognitive and physical) and the ability to adjust to changing situations and uncertainty in clinical situations.
9. Transport oneself or arrange transportation to educational experiences on and off campus (i.e. distant clinical rotation sites).

Admission to the USM Physician Assistant Program is conditional on the candidate’s having the ability to satisfy these technical standards. The Program embraces a process that examines and values all skills, attitudes, and attributes of each candidate on a case-by-case basis. The PA Program reserves the right to assess or reassess any student’s ability to meet the standards at any time.

Students are obligated to alert the PA Program in a timely fashion of any change in their ability to meet the Technical Standards. If a student is unable to fulfill the Technical Standards prior to or any time after admission the student may not be permitted to enroll, progress, or graduate from the program.

The University of Southern Mississippi PA Program fully complies with all state and federal laws and regulations, including the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (as amended), and Mississippi law. The PA Program adheres to the University of Southern Mississippi’s policies on Disability Accommodations and Prohibited Discrimination, Harassment, and Retaliation. The PA Program does not discriminate against qualified applicants or enrolled students with disabilities. The PA Program is committed to the full and equitable inclusion of qualified learners with disabilities.

These technical standards are not intended to deter any candidate for whom reasonable accommodation will allow the fulfillment of the complete curriculum. Candidates with questions regarding technical standards are encouraged to contact the SAS office to address what types of accommodation may be considered for development to achieve these standards. Given the clinical nature of the program, adequate time may be needed to develop and implement accommodations. As accommodations are not retroactive, timely requests are essential and encouraged.