UNIVERSITY OF NEW ENGLAND

PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PROGRAM

STUDENT HANDBOOK

Revised May 30, 2007

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 4 UNIVERSITY POLICIES ............................................................................................................. 4 MISSION STATEMENT .............................................................................................................. 4 PROGRAM EXPECTED GRADUATE PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES..................... 5 I. GENERAL PROGRAM INFORMATION…………………………………………………..5 SCHOOL CANCELLATION OR DELAYS ................................................................................ 5 FACULTY/STAFF CONTACT INFORMATION ....................................................................... 6 STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES ............................................................................................. 7 DIDACTIC YEAR SCHEDULE................................................................................................... 8 COURSE TITLE ........................................................................................................................... 8 CREDITS ....................................................................................................................................... 8 Summer 2007……………………………………………………………………………………8 Fall 2007………………………………………………………………………………………….8 Spring 2008………………………………………………………………………………………8 CLINICAL ROTATION SCHEDULE .......................................................................................... 8 II. GENERAL PROGRAM POLICIES……………………………………………………….9 CHANGE OF ADDRESS POLICY............................................................................................. 9 STUDENT HEALTH..................................................................................................................... 9 Health Insurance .......................................................................................................................... 9 Physical Exam/Immunization Requirements ........................................................................... 9 Immunization Requirements for All College of Health Professions Students…………...10 COMMUNICATION POLICY .................................................................................................... 10 VACATION .................................................................................................................................. 10 POLICY ON STUDENT EMPLOYMENT................................................................................ 10 POLICY ON ADVANCED PLACEMENT ................................................................................ 11 POLICY ON EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING ............................................................................. 11 TRANSFER CREDIT ................................................................................................................. 11 GRADING POLICY .................................................................................................................... 11 POLICY ON INCOMPLETE GRADES.................................................................................... 11 STUDENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE (SAC)............................................................................. 12 STUDENT REPRESENTATION AT THE SAC MEETING .................................................. 12 POLICY ON FAILURE OF DIDACTIC EXAMS OR COURSES ......................................... 12 POLICY ON FAILURE OF CLINICAL ROTATIONS............................................................. 13 PROBATION ............................................................................................................................... 14 ETHICAL AND BEHAVIORAL STANDARDS........................................................................ 14 NOTIFICATION OF ACTIONS BY THE STUDENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE .................. 14 APPEALS .................................................................................................................................... 15 PROMOTION POLICY .............................................................................................................. 15 GRADUATION/ACADEMIC STANDARDS ............................................................................ 15 DISMISSAL ................................................................................................................................. 15 LEAVE OF ABSENCE AND WITHDRAWAL......................................................................... 15 TECHNICAL STANDARDS ...................................................................................................... 16 STANDARDS OF CONDUCT .................................................................................................. 17

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GUIDELINES FOR ETHICAL CONDUCT FOR THE PA PROFESSION ......................... 19 PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT COMPETENCIES (adopted by PAEA Jan 2007)................... 19 PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS ..................................................................................... 23 III. DIDACTIC YEAR INFORMATION AND POLICIES…………………………………..23 TEXTBOOKS/COURSE SYLABII............................................................................................ 23 EQUIPMENT............................................................................................................................... 23 ATTENDANCE ........................................................................................................................... 24 COURSE / LECTURER EVALUATION FORMS................................................................... 24 IV. CLINICAL YEAR INFORMATION AND POLICIES……………………………………24 Out of System Rotation Sites ................................................................................................... 25 STUDENT INVOLVEMENT ON CLINICAL ROTATIONS ................................................... 25 PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY .................................................................................................... 25 HEALTH INSURANCE .............................................................................................................. 26 LATEX ALLERGY ...................................................................................................................... 26 INJURY REPORTING ............................................................................................................... 26 WORKERS COMPENSATION INSURANCE........................................................................ 26 GRADES FOR CLINICAL ROTATIONS................................................................................. 27 RECORDING OF ROTATION GRADES................................................................................ 27 ROTATION SITE EVALUATIONS........................................................................................... 27 PATIENT/PROCEDURE LOGS............................................................................................... 27 ATTENDANCE POLICY............................................................................................................ 28 ABSENCES................................................................................................................................. 28 HOUSING POLICY .................................................................................................................... 28 TRANSPORTATION POLICY .................................................................................................. 29 GRADUATION WEEK ............................................................................................................... 29

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INTRODUCTION The purpose of the Physician Assistant Program (PAP) is to prepare individuals to practice as physician assistants. The University of New England (UNE) grants a Master of Science degree and the Program bestows a Certificate of Completion for successful completion of the two year Program. This handbook contains all of the specific policies and procedures pertinent to both the didactic and clinical years of the program. It is should be used in conjunction with the University of New England Student Handbook. All students should be familiar with both documents. The policies and procedures in this handbook are revised annually and will take effect at the start of the next academic year. The policies and procedures contained herein will take effect on May 30, 2007. UNIVERSITY POLICIES The Physician Assistant Program requires that all matriculating students abide by the University of New England Policies. These are included with the Student Planner and available at the PAP office. All policies involving safety, security, residential life, discrimination/harassment, misconduct, alcohol and drug use and conduct should particularly be followed. MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the University of New England Physician Assistant Program is to prepare masters level primary care Physician Assistants who will practice with physicians and other members of the health care team. The Program is committed to developing practitioners who are educated in all aspects of healthcare including geriatrics, health promotion and disease prevention, and public health practice. Special emphasis is placed on training clinicians who will provide primary healthcare to rural and urban underserved populations.

The Physician Assistant Program is a rigorous and intense program that places specific requirements and demands on the students enrolled in the program. An objective of this program is to prepare graduates to enter a variety of employment settings and to render healthcare to a wide spectrum of individuals. The technical standards set forth by the Program establish the essential qualities considered necessary for students admitted to this program to achieve the knowledge, skills, and competencies of a practicing Physician Assistant, as well as meet the expectations of the program's accrediting agency (Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc [ARC-PA]). Compliance with the program's technical standards does not guarantee a student's eligibility for the PANCE certification exam. The subject matter in PA education can be of a very sensitive and sometimes disturbing nature. Students are reminded that the purpose of the educational sessions is to prepare students to provide physician-supervised primary health care to all persons and in all environments without regard to the student's own personal beliefs and biases.

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PROGRAM EXPECTED GRADUATE PROFESSIONAL COMPETENCIES Graduates of the Physician Assistant Program will:

Understand the basic sciences of anatomy, physiology and pathophysiology and be able to utilize this knowledge in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. Understand the principles of pharmacotherapeutics and to apply them in the treatment of

patients. Elicit a detailed, accurate history and perform a thorough physical examination Understand how to order and interpret appropriate diagnostic tests in a cost efficient

manner. Present patient data and document it appropriately in the medical record. Provide quality acute and ongoing patient care by appropriately delineating patient problems

and by formulating and implementing patient management plans, including referrals to other healthcare providers and agencies. Perform or assist in the performance of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, and manage

or assist in the management of medical and surgical conditions, particularly in life threatening situations. Understand the principles of public health and incorporate health promotion and disease

prevention into a patient care practice. Use information technology in the provision of quality healthcare and clinical decision-

making. Evaluate the medical literature critically and apply this knowledge and the principles of

evidence-based medicine to clinical practice. Provide compassionate and competent healthcare to patients of all ages and backgrounds. Understand the medical and social issues that affect the geriatric patient and provide

appropriate management of these problems. Counsel patients, their families and their caregivers regarding issues of health, illness and

medical care. Understand the historical and contemporary role of the physician assistant in the healthcare

system. Participate effectively as a member of an interdisciplinary healthcare team. Understand the principles of patient oriented healthcare and to communicate clearly with

patients. Identify the special dynamics of providing healthcare to rural or underserved populations. Demonstrate appropriate professional behavior by following the American Academy of

Physician Assistants- CODE OF ETHICS OF THE PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT PROFESSION.

I. GENERAL PROGRAM INFORMATION SCHOOL CANCELLATION OR DELAYS The University usually makes a decision to close or delay school because of inclement weather by 6:30 a.m. Check the following TV or radio stations for these announcements or call the UNE CANCELLATION BULLETIN BOARD at 602-2211 for a recorded announcement about cancellations or delays.

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PROGRAM CALENDAR Class of 2008 May 29, 2007 Clinical Rotations begin August 16-17, 2007 Rotation Seminar # 1 November 7-9, 2007 Rotation Seminar #2 Dec.22-Jan 2, 2008 Christmas vacation February 6-8, 2008 Rotation Seminar #3 May 6-10, 2008 Graduation Week May 11, 2008 CHP Graduation Ceremony Class of 2009 June 4-5, 2007 Orientation June 6, 2007 Summer classes begin August 17, 2007 Summer semester ends August 20-August 24, 2007 Summer break August 27, 2007 Fall Semester begins September 3, 2007 Labor Day Holiday October 6-8, 2007 Long Weekend November 21-25,2007 Thanksgiving break December 20, 2007 Fall semester ends December 21-Jan. 6, 2008 Christmas break January 7, 2008 Spring classes begin January 14, 2008 Martin Luther King Holiday March 11-15, 2008 Spring break May 10, 2008 Didactic Year ends FACULTY/STAFF CONTACT INFORMATION Name Position Phone Email address John Beneck Faculty jbeneck@une.eduBrenda Beckett Faculty bbeckett@une.edu Liz Cavallaro Administrative Assistant 221-4528 lcavallaro@une.eduJim Cyr Program Adm Asst 221-4529 Jcyr@une.edu Sylvana D’Alfonso Clinical Placement Coord 221-4526 sdalfonso@une.edu Tory Davis Assistant Professor 221-4552 tdavis@une.edu Patrick Enking Clinical Coordinator 221-4524 penking@une.edu Erich Fogg Program Director 221-4527 efogg@une.edu Jeff Handler Medical Director 221-4530 jhandler@une.edu Lisa Southwick Academic Coordinator 221-4525 lsouthwick@une.edu Carl Toney Program Faculty 221-4266 ctoney@une.eduMelissa Tsomides Assistant Professor 221- 4533 mtsomides@une.edu Joseph Wolfberg IGEP instructor 221-4465 JWolfberg@une.edu ACADEMIC ADVISING All students will be assigned a faculty advisor. Students must meet with their faculty advisor at least once each semester during their first year and may meet with them at each Rotation

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Seminar during their second year. The purpose of the meeting is to review the student’s progress and to discuss any problems the student may be experiencing. Students are encouraged to meet with their advisor more frequently if they are having academic problems. The Program Director will not be assigned advisees. CHAIN OF COMMAND The following is an example of the process of contacting the faculty with questions or concerns that are general in nature.

1. Contact your academic advisor for general guidance in: a. Your progress in the program b. Issues in the classroom that are disruptive or distracting c. Issues with other faculty members or staff

2. Contact the administrative assistant in the PA Office for:

a. Appointments with the Program Director b. Any informational changes the program should know about c. Any other administrative components of your education

3. Contact the secretary of the clinical year for: a. Information pertaining to the clinical year documentation including H&Ps,

site evaluations and grades 4. Contact the Clinical Placement Coordinator

a. Information regarding setting up rotations b. Rotation administrative details c. Housing assistance/contacts during the clinical year

5. Contact the Academic Coordinator for: a. Any academic issue during the didactic phase of the program such as

scheduling, examinations, workshops, absences 6. Contact the Clinical coordinator for:

a. educational issues pertaining to clinical rotations including relationships with staff, preceptors, learning objectives, examinations

b. issues pertaining to rotation seminars c. issues pertaining to summative evaluations d. questions about rotation examinations

7. Contact the Program Director for: a. issues not able to be adequately handled by the most appropriate first

contact b. issues involving the university administration c. issues involving student affairs d. issues involving completion of program criteria

8. Contact the IGEP Coordinator for: a. Educational issues pertaining to IGEP

STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES The University provides reasonable accommodations for qualified students with disabilities. See the UNE Student Handbook for specific information on the subject of students with disabilities. See also requirements for Technical Standards, page 15.

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DIDACTIC YEAR SCHEDULE

Course List 2007-2008 First Year Students

COURSE NUMBER COURSE TITLE CREDITS

Summer 2007 PAC 500 Anatomy 4 PAC 520 Behavioral Science 2 PAC 503 Clinical Assessment I 2 PAC 505 Professional Seminar 1 PAC 506 Integrating Seminar I 1 PAC 509 Integrated Clinical Medicine I 1 PAC 511 Health Promotion Disease Prevention 2 13 Fall 2007 PAC 541 Epidemiology 1 PAC 513 Clinical Assessment II 1 PAC 516 Integrating Seminar II 1 PAC 517 Microbiology 3 PAC 518 Pharmacology I 3 PAC 519 Integrated Clinical Medicine II 8 PAC 522 Integrated Geriatric Practicum I 1 18 Spring 2008 PAC 534 Application of Research in Clinical Practice 3 PAC 510 Professional & Ethical Issues 2 PAC 533 Clinical Assessment III 2 PAC 536 Integrating Seminar III 1 PAC 537 Emergency Medicine and Surgery 4 PAC 538 Pharmacology II 2 PAC 539 Integrated Clinical Medicine III 10 PAC 540 Integrated Geriatric Practicum II 1 25

TOTAL: 56 CLINICAL ROTATION SCHEDULE Rotation May 06 – May 07 Credit HoursPAC 600 Internal Medicine I 6 credits PAC 601 Internal Medicine II 6 credits PAC 602 Emergency Medicine 6 credits PAC 603 General Surgery 6 credits

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PAC 607 Family Medicine I 6 credits PAC 608 Family Medicine II 6 credits PAC 612 Primary Care Selective 6 credits PAC 613 Specialty Elective 6 credits 48 Credits Additional Curriculum requirements during the clinical year: PAC 611 Rotation Seminar 2 Credit PAC 620 Preparation for Clinical Practice 1 Credit PAC 624 Application of Research in Clinical Practice III 1 CreditTotal Credit Hours for clinical year 52 Credits

II. GENERAL PROGRAM POLICIES CHANGE OF ADDRESS POLICY Students are required to notify the Program when there is a change in their address or phone number. The Program will not be responsible for lost mail or late notification when a student does not provide notification of a change. STUDENT HEALTH Health Insurance All students must have health insurance coverage while enrolled in the UNE Physician assistant Program. Students are responsible for any costs entailed in treating injuries during matriculation in the PA Program (See Injury Policy). Physical Exam/Immunization Requirements Students are absolutely required to have the health care exams and immunizations listed below before enrollment, and during the Program.

1. A physical examination with appropriate lab work prior to starting the PA Program and just prior to the start of clinical rotations. Results of the exam must be submitted on the approved university form to the Health Center.

Immunization Requirements for UNE Students (University Policy 2007)

These recommendations are based on CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), ACHA (American College Health Association), and ACIP (Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices).

1. All UNE students are MANDATED by the State of Maine to have one MMR and recommended to have two. UNE presently requires all students to have a second measles (Rubeola). Based on the guidelines we’re recommending all students have two MMRs within the students’ lifetime. Students with laboratory evidence of disease immunity (i.e., serologic test results indicating immunity) are counted as appropriately vaccinated.

2. Tetanus/Diphtheria is the second vaccine MANDATED by the State of Maine and has to be administered within the last 10 years.

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All students attending UNE will have the above vaccines. Immunization Requirements for All College of Health Professions Students

1. Hepatitis B -series of three injections; titer required 6-8 weeks after third shot given. If has negative titer then repeat series of three shots or give a booster and check immunity. If has a second negative titer then the patient is a non-responder. The titer will only be checked if within one year of full series of three shots.

2. Varicella- titer required. If has a negative titer, then have series of two doses, four to eight weeks apart. No additional titer is required.

3. PPD - required annually and has to be read within 48-72 hours. Chest X-ray required if has positive PPD.

4. Polio - Primary series as a child. If no primary series: two doses IPV four to eight weeks apart, third dose is six to twelve months after the second dose. Routine polio vaccine is not recommended for persons 18 years of age and older.

Recommended Immunizations for CHP students:

1. Meningococcal Tetravalent Conjugate or Tetravalent Polysaccharide if Conjugate is not available-one dose.

2. Influenza vaccine on an annual basis COMMUNICATION POLICY E-mail is the primary mechanism used by the Program to notify students of important information. Both first and second year students are required to check their university e-mail on a daily basis. The Program will not be responsible if a student has inaccurate information because the student does not routinely use his/her e-mail. VACATION During the didactic phase, students will follow the MSPA schedule by the program. Holidays and vacation times may differ from the University Schedule. During the clinical year, students will only have a vacation during the December Holiday Break. POLICY ON STUDENT EMPLOYMENT The Program discourages students from having outside employment while in the Program. If a student feels that it is necessary to work while in the Program, it is advisable that the student informs his/her faculty advisor of this need. Program expectations, assignments, deadlines and responsibilities will not be altered or adjusted to accommodate working students and it is expected that his/her employment will not interfere with his/her learning experience. Should a conflict arise concerning outside employment the issue may be brought to the Student Affairs Committee. POLICY ON STUDENT WORK TO BENEFIT THE PA PROGRAM Students will not be required to perform any clerical or administrative work on behalf of the PA Program. On occasion the faculty or staff of the program may make a request for a student to perform volunteer activity for the program. Students will not be obligated to

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volunteer and shall not be financially compensated for this activity. Student employment through the university work-study program will be governed by university policies. POLICY ON ADVANCED PLACEMENT Admitted students who have taken basic science graduate or undergraduate courses may qualify for advanced placement (advanced standing). To obtain credit for a course, the student must request an Advanced Placement Form from the Program. An official copy of his/her transcript must be attached to the form, along with the course description from the other institution’s catalog. This form must then be submitted to the Academic Coordinator, who will then refer it to the appropriate instructor. Once the request has been approved, the student must return it to the Program for documentation. The student is also responsible for submitting the approved request to the Registrar’s office. The decision to approve a request is based on the fact that the substitute course is equivalent to the course offered by the Program. Advanced placement credit decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis, considering the individual course content and how it relates to the Program curriculum. Students may be asked to take a challenge examination to qualify for advance placement credit. Tuition is based on an annual fee. Advanced placement will not result in tuition savings. POLICY ON EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING No credit will be awarded to students for experiential learning. TRANSFER CREDIT Transfer credits may be awarded to students who transfer from another physician assistant program. The program director will award transfer credits on a case-by-case basis. GRADING POLICY The Physician Assistant Program is designed to integrate didactic and clinical learning experiences to optimize competency as a healthcare provider. Therefore successful completion of every course and clinical rotation is necessary to progress through the Program. Grades for both the didactic and clinical years are based on the following GRADING SCALE: High Pass Above 90% Demonstrate excellent work and performs above

expectations. Pass 70-90% Consistently performs at a satisfactory level. Fail Below 70% Does not perform at a satisfactory level.

POLICY ON INCOMPLETE GRADES All required courses or rotation assignments must be completed by the end of the semester/rotation or he/she will receive an “Incomplete” for the course/rotation grade. All course or rotation work must be successfully completed within six weeks of the end of a semester for the didactic year. Failure to complete the required work during the time limit results in an assignment of a “Failure” for the course. (see the UNE Student Handbook, p.43) The course requirements for the clinical rotations are outlined in the Instructional

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Objectives for the specific rotation. Any missing evaluations, logs or examinations will result in an “incomplete” until submitted and reviewed by faculty. STUDENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE (SAC) The Committee may consist of representatives from the Physician Assistant Program, College of Medicine, College of Health Professions or adjunct clinical faculty. The Committee will consist of at least five members, one of who will be from outside the PA Program. The PA Program director will appoint the chair of the committee. A quorum of at least four members must be present at a meeting before the Committee can make any decisions. Although not required, it is desirable to have a member from outside the PA Program present when decisions are made. A majority vote of the Committee members present is necessary to act on disciplinary sanctions or to promote a student. The committee chair may, at his/her discretion, use electronic communication to request the committee to act in promoting students if there are no issues requiring discussion on disciplinary proceedings. The Committee is responsible for regularly evaluating the progress of each student and for making the determination of an appropriate course of action when a student experiences academic or behavioral conduct issues. The Committee will meet at the end of each semester and when necessary to investigate academic or behavioral issues. The Student Affairs Committee may be convened at the request of any PA Program faculty member, or any didactic or clinical year student. It may review student records and may interview students, staff, faculty members and preceptors. Since decisions are not based entirely on academic grades, the Committee will consider relevant information from faculty, staff and preceptors, as well as prior academic performance, attendance, professional conduct and extenuating circumstances STUDENT REPRESENTATION AT THE SAC MEETING The student may be present at the meeting. The student may have an advisor with him/her at the meeting but may not have an attorney present. POLICY ON FAILURE OF DIDACTIC EXAMS OR COURSES Any student failing one examination will receive an exam failure notice from the Academic Coordinator by e-mail. A copy of this notice will also be sent to the student’s advisor. The student will be required to make an appointment with his/her advisor within two weeks of receipt of the e-mail to discuss the student’s performance on the examination. Any student failing two exams in the same semester will receive a letter of concern from the Academic Coordinator, which will be placed in the student’s file, and a copy will be sent to the student’s advisor. The student will be required to meet with his/her advisor within two weeks of receipt of the letter to discuss the student’s academic performance. The Student Affairs Committee (SAC) will review the academic performance of any student who fails three exams in one semester. The Academic Coordinator shall send a notification of failure of three exams to the student and the chair of the SAC. A letter either by email

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(with receipt of notice) or a written copy will be sent to the student by the chair of the SAC notifying the student that a meeting to discuss his/her progress will take place. A copy will be placed in the student’s academic file. The student may be asked to appear before the SAC. Any student failing three or more exams in a single semester may be put on probation. If a student fails greater than 50% of the tests in a given course, s/he may be placed on academic probation even if s/he passes the course. The SAC will meet to discuss the circumstances and determine any course of action. This may include a remediation plan, the need to repeat the course, continued academic probation or dismissal from the program. If a remediation plan is decided, the Academic Coordinator and/or the course coordinator and input from any other faculty member as requested by the Program Director will develop a remediation plan for the student. This plan may include a comprehensive exam for the course or any other action deemed necessary to ensure the student is prepared to progress in the program. The Student Affairs Committee automatically places any student who fails a didactic course on probation. The Academic Coordinator and/or the course coordinator as well as any other faculty requested by the Program Director will develop a remediation plan for the student. This plan may include a comprehensive exam for the course. The student will remain on probation for the next semester even if he/she successfully completes the remediation plan. If the student does not successfully complete all aspects of the remediation plan, he/she will receive a grade of “F” for the course and may be dismissed. The SAC may offer the student the opportunity to repeat the course if it is felt there are extenuating circumstances. The student will be placed on probation and will not be allowed to progress in the program until he/she has successfully completed the course. Upon returning into the program, the student shall be on Academic Probation until the student has completed the course he/she initially failed. A student who fails more than one course at any time during matriculation, will be dismissed from the Program. If a student is required to repeat a course, the new grade shall be entered on their transcript following completion of the course a second time. The original grade shall not be removed from the transcript. Any appeal to the SAC decisions will be made to the Program Director. (See page 14) The Student Affairs Committee may make modifications to the process described above because of extenuating circumstances at any time. POLICY ON FAILURE OF CLINICAL ROTATIONS The student must meet with the SAC to discuss the reasons for the failure. A student who fails a clinical rotation may be required to do any of the following at the discretion of the SAC: 1) complete an additional rotation in the same discipline or a discipline chosen by the SAC; 2) be placed on probation with an independent project to be completed; 3) dismissed from the program. He/she must repeat the failed rotation at a different site. Failure of more than one clinical rotation will result in dismissal from the Program. Students may not participate in clinical rotations while on probation. The original grade for the rotation will be entered on the student’s transcript. After

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completion of the repeated rotation, the new grade will also be entered on the student’s transcript. The original grade shall not be removed from the transcript. The SAC may make modifications to the process described above because of extenuating circumstances. PROBATION The SAC may place a student on probation for academic failure or because of a behavioral/ethical concerns. Documentation of the probationary status will be permanently documented in the student’s academic file retained by the program. This is not necessarily an University sanctioned probation. If a student is placed on probation he/she must meet with his/her academic advisor for academic counseling. The SAC will recommend the schedule for these meetings initially. It is the student’s responsibility to contact his/her advisor to schedule meetings. Failure to do so may be considered a violation of the terms of probation. Additional recommendations of the committee may be included in the probationary requirements on an individual basis. The Student Affairs Committee will review the probationary status at the end of the following semester or sooner. The probationary status will then be withdrawn if, in the view of the SAC, the student has successfully completed all probationary conditions imposed upon him/her. A student who does not successfully complete remediation will continue on probation for a second semester or period of time determined by the SAC. Failure to satisfy probationary conditions at the end of the second probationary term will result in dismissal from the Program. A student who is placed on probation during the didactic year may not start on clinical rotations until the SAC terminates the probationary status. The SAC may decide to remove probationary status at any time based on new information or a majority agreement that the probationary criteria have been met. ETHICAL AND BEHAVIORAL STANDARDS Failure to adhere to the Standards of Conduct and the AAPA Code of Ethics (page 19) may result in a disciplinary sanction. Under these circumstances, the SAC may do any or all of the following:

1. recommend issuing a letter of concern or reprimand 2. recommend academic probation 3. recommend repetition of a class or clinical rotation 4. recommend dismissal from the Program

The SAC may consider any other behaviors in reaching a decision to take action. This includes activities or behaviors outside the classroom or in the clinical rotation, which do not reflect well on the Program, profession or the individual. NOTIFICATION OF ACTIONS BY THE STUDENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE The Chair shall notify the student of any action taken by the SAC in writing. A copy will be sent to the Program Director and student’s advisor. The student shall sign the letter and it will be placed in the educational file.

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APPEALS Decisions made by the SAC, which a student believes to be unfair, may be appealed to the Program Director. The Program Director may overturn any findings of the committee or ask the committee to review any new materials that may be relevant to the situation. The Committee will meet to discuss the issue brought forth by the Program Director on behalf of the student. The SAC Chair will submit any findings or recommendations in writing to the Program Director should a rare second review be requested. Appeals that are not resolved to the student’s satisfaction at the Program level may be appealed to the Dean of the College of Health Professions. To do so, the student should follow the review process set forth in the UNE Student Handbook. PROMOTION POLICY The Student Affairs Committee will review student performance at the end of each semester. Students must receive a “Pass” in all courses or rotations to progress to the next semester. If a student does not pass all courses in the didactic year he/she will not be able to progress to the clinical year. Students who fail to progress will be placed on probation or dismissed as outlined in previous chapters. A letter of promotion shall be given to each student after each semester. (See POLICY ON FAILURE OF DIDACTIC EXAMS OR COURSES). GRADUATION/ACADEMIC STANDARDS Students must complete all Program requirements prior to the issuance of their Master of Science degree and the Certificate of Completion. The Core Faculty Committee will be responsible for notifying the program director when students have completed all of the requirements for graduation. DISMISSAL Students dismissed from the Physician Assistant Program, for any reason, will not be readmitted to the Program under ordinary circumstances. In very unusual circumstances, dismissed students would be considered for readmission. These students must request the opportunity to reapply in writing to the Physician Assistant Program Director. Upon approval, the student would then reapply to the Office of Admissions following the usual admission procedures. The letter of approval shall be forwarded to the admission office. LEAVE OF ABSENCE AND WITHDRAWAL Students requesting to take a leave of absence or withdrawal from the Program must make the request in writing to the Program Director. They must also follow all procedures as outlined in the University of New England Student Handbook. The PA Program will not support or grant a Leave of Absence solely for poor academic performance. A leave may be granted if a required course is not available. In the event that a student is granted a medical or personal leave of absence, he or she will be responsible for additional costs related to living and other personal expenses, in the absence of financial aid eligibility. You will be referred to the Office of Financial Aid and Enrollment Management for specifics details.

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TECHNICAL STANDARDS A candidate for the Physician Assistant Program must have abilities and skills in five categories: observation, communication, motor, intellectual, and behavioral/social. All students admitted to the program must meet the following abilities and expectations. In the event a student is unable to fulfill these technical standards, with or without reasonable accommodation, the student will be subject to dismissal after admission. Reasonable accommodation for persons with documented disabilities will be considered on an individual basis. However a candidate must be able to perform these skills in an independent manner. The following skills are required, with or without reasonable accommodation: Observation: Candidates must have sufficient sensory capacity to observe in the lecture hall, the laboratory, the outpatient setting, and the patient's bedside. Sensory skills adequate to perform a physical examination are required. The ability to acquire sensory input using vision, hearing and tactile sensation must be adequate to observe a patient's condition and to elicit information through procedures regularly required in a physical examination, such as inspection, auscultation, percussion and palpation. In any case where a candidate’s ability to observe or acquire information through these sensory modalities is compromised, the candidate must demonstrate alternative means and/or abilities to acquire and demonstrate the essential information without reliance upon another person’s interpretation of the information. It is expected that obtaining and using such alternative means and/or abilities shall be the responsibility of the student. The university will reasonably assist the student where necessary. Communication: The candidate must be able to effectively and efficiently communicate using verbal, written and reading skills, in a manner that demonstrates sensitivity to patients, their families and all members of the health care team. A candidate must be able to accurately elicit information, describe a patient’s change in mood, thought, activity and posture. Students must demonstrate established communication skills using traditional or alternative reasonable means. Motor: The ability to participate in basic diagnostic and therapeutic maneuvers and procedures (e.g. palpation, auscultation) is required. Candidates must have sufficient motor function to safely execute movements required to provide care to patients. Candidates must be able to negotiate patient care environments and must be able to move between settings, such as clinic, classroom building, and hospital. Physical stamina sufficient to complete the rigorous course of didactic and clinical study is required. Long periods of sitting, standing, or moving are required in the classroom, laboratory, and during clinical experiences. The candidate must be able to execute motor movements reasonably required to provide general and emergency diagnosis and medical care such as airway management, placement

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of intravenous catheters, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and suturing of wounds. At all times the ability to administer care to patients in a safe manner is paramount. Intellectual. Candidates must be able to measure, calculate, reason, analyze and synthesize information effectively in a precisely limited time as would be appropriate for the individual’s level of training in a given clinical setting, while under stress, and in an environment in which other distractions may be present. Problem solving, one of the critical skills demanded of Physician Assistants, requires all of these intellectual abilities. In addition, candidates should be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and understand the spatial relationships of structures. Candidates must be able to read and understand medical literature. The Candidate must be able to demonstrate mastery of these skills and the ability to use them together in a timely fashion in medical problem-solving and patient care. The candidate must be able, with or without the use of assistive devices, but without reliance on another person, to interpret x-ray and other graphic images and digital or analog representations of physiologic phenomenon (such as EKGs). Behavioral and Social Attributes: Candidates must possess the emotional health required for full utilization of their intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment, and the prompt completion of all academic and patient care responsibilities. The development of mature, sensitive and effective relationships with patients and other members of the health care team are essential. Flexibility, compassion, integrity, motivation, interpersonal skills and the ability to function in the face of uncertainties inherent in clinical practice are all required. STANDARDS OF CONDUCT Success in the Physician Assistant Profession requires certain behavioral attributes including: empathy, discipline, honesty, integrity, the ability to work effectively with others in a team environment, and the ability to address a crisis or emergency situation in a composed manner. The program will not tolerate incivility by any member of the PA community. Examples of incivility include rude, sarcastic, obscene, disruptive or disrespectful remarks or behavior, verbal or physical threats, or damage to property. The Student Affairs Committee will review all reported violations of this policy and make a recommendation to the Director regarding disposition. The Committee's possible sanctions and the student's right to due process are discussed in the conduct code and competencies listed below as well as the section on the Student Affairs Committee responsibilities. The Accreditation Standards for Physician Assistant Education state: “The role of the Physician Assistant demands intelligence, sound judgment, intellectual honesty, appropriate interpersonal skills, and the capacity to react to emergencies in a calm and reasoned manner. An attitude of respect for self and others, adherence to the concepts of privilege and confidentiality in communicating with patients, and a commitment to the patient’s welfare are essential attributes for the graduate PA.”

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Adherence to these attributes requires that Physician Assistants and Physician Assistant Students exhibit a high level of maturity and self-control even in highly stressful situations. In keeping with these precepts, Physician Assistant students must conduct themselves in a highly professional manner consistent with the patient care responsibilities with which they will be entrusted during their training in the Program. Students must adhere to the following standards. Failure to do so will necessitate that the student appear before the Student Affairs Committee and may result in disciplinary sanction or dismissal from the Program. Behavior: Students are expected to behave in a responsible, reliable and dependable manner. The student must project a professional image in manner, dress, grooming, speech and interpersonal relationships that is consistent with the medical profession’s accepted contemporary community standards. The student should recognize his/her personal limitations and biases, whether they are intellectual, physical or emotional and strive to correct them. He/she must demonstrate the professional and emotional maturity to manage tensions and conflicts and should seek professional help when necessary. Respect: Students are expected to treat all patients, faculty, program staff, clinical preceptors, and fellow students with dignity and respect. Conflicts should be resolved in a diplomatic reasoned manner. Students should be sensitive and tolerant with regard to diversity in the student and patient population. Physician Assistant training involves a close working environment with other students and includes physical examination of fellow students and discussion groups that may reveal information of a personal nature. These situations must be approached with respect for the privacy, confidentiality, and feelings of fellow students. Flexibility: Physician Assistant training involves instruction from practicing clinicians with unpredictable schedules. At times lectures or clinical sessions may need to be adjusted with short notice. We believe the advantages of utilizing practicing clinicians outweigh this inconvenience, and ask students to be flexible and tolerant of changes. Integrity: Students are expected to follow all policies in the Student Code of Conduct section of the University of New England Student Handbook including those pertaining to academic dishonesty. Unethical behavior such as academic dishonesty, plagiarism, cheating and falsifying logs or medical records is considered a violation of the Program’s Standards of Conduct. Possible violations will be referred to the Student Affairs Committee for investigation and may result in dismissal from the PA Program. Physician Assistant Students are also expected to display the highest ethical standards commensurate with work as a health care professional. Some of these are outlined in the Guidelines for Ethical Conduct for the Physician Assistant Profession published by the American Academy of Physician Assistants and listed below. Identification: Physician Assistant Students must always identify themselves as Physician Assistant students to patients and site staff, and never present themselves as physicians, residents, medical students, or graduate Physician Assistants. Students must wear a short clinical jacket while at all clinical sites unless instructed not to do so by the clinical site or the Program. Students must always wear their official nametag while at clinical sites. While in

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the Program students may not use previously earned titles (i.e. RN, DC, Ph.D., etc.) for identification purposes. Confidentiality: Students must respect the confidentiality of patients and fellow students and are not permitted to discuss any patients by name outside the clinical encounter situation. Adherence to HIPAA regulations is mandatory. Students should not discuss other students with preceptors. For academic presentations and history and physical assignments, all identifying data, including name, initials, date of birth, and facility where seen will not be included. GUIDELINES FOR ETHICAL CONDUCT FOR THE PA PROFESSION The following is the Statement of Values of the Physician Assistant Profession developed by American Academy of Physician Assistants and adopted in May 2000 and Amended in June 2004. The AAPA Guidelines for Ethical Conduct is a lengthy document and may be viewed in its entirety on the AAPA web page at http://www.aapa.org/gandp/ethical-guidelines.pdf. It is also available in printed form at the PA Program offices. Statement of Values of the Physician Assistant Profession

• Physician assistants hold as their primary responsibility the health, safety, welfare, and dignity of all human beings.

• Physician assistants uphold the tenets of patient autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence, and justice.

• Physician assistants recognize and promote the value of diversity. • Physician assistants treat equally all persons who seek their care. • Physician assistants hold in confidence the information shared in the course of

practicing medicine. • Physician assistants assess their personal capabilities and limitations, striving always

to improve their medical practice. • Physician assistants actively seek to expand their knowledge and skills, keeping

abreast of advances in medicine. • Physician assistants work with other members of the health care team to provide

compassionate and effective care of patients. • Physician assistants use their knowledge and experience to contribute to an

improved community. • Physician assistants respect their professional relationship with physicians. • Physician assistants share and expand knowledge within the profession.

PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT COMPETENCIES (adopted by PAEA Jan 2007) Competencies for the Physician Assistant Profession, is a foundation from which four organizations (NCCPA, AAPA, ARC-PA, PAEA), other physician assistant organizations and individual physician assistants themselves can chart a course for advancing the competencies of the PA profession. The purpose of this section is to communicate to the PA Students and members of the profession and the public, a set of competencies that all physician assistants regardless of

specialty or setting are expected to acquire and maintain throughout their careers. The PA profession defines the specific knowledge, skills, and attitudes as well as the required educational experiences needed in order for physician assistants to acquire and demonstrate these competencies. MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE includes an understanding of pathophysiology, patient presentation, differential diagnosis, patient management, surgical principles, health promotion and disease prevention. Physician assistants must demonstrate core knowledge about established and evolving biomedical and clinical sciences and the application of this knowledge to patient care in their area of practice. In addition, physician assistants are expected to demonstrate an investigatory and analytic thinking approach to clinical situations. Physician assistants are expected to:

• understand etiologies, risk factors, underlying pathologic process, and epidemiology for medical conditions

• identify signs and symptoms of medical conditions • select and interpret appropriate diagnostic or lab studies

• manage general medical and surgical conditions to include understanding the indications, contraindications, side effects, interactions and adverse reactions of pharmacologic agents and other relevant treatment modalities

• identify the appropriate site of care for presenting conditions, including identifying emergent cases and those requiring referral or admission

• identify appropriate interventions for prevention of conditions • identify the appropriate methods to detect conditions in an asymptomatic individual • differentiate between the normal and the abnormal in anatomic, physiological,

laboratory findings and other diagnostic data • appropriately use history and physical findings and diagnostic studies to formulate a

differential diagnosis • provide appropriate care to patients with chronic conditions

INTERPERSONAL & COMMUNICATION SKILLS encompass verbal, nonverbal and written exchange of information. Physician assistants must demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in effective information exchange with patients, their patients’ families, physicians, professional associates, and the health care system. Physician assistants are expected to:

• create and sustain a therapeutic and ethically sound relationship with patients

• use effective listening, nonverbal, explanatory, questioning, and writing skills to elicit and provide information

• appropriately adapt communication style and messages to the context of the individual patient interaction

• work effectively with physicians and other health care professionals as a member or leader of a health care team or other professional group

• apply an understanding of human behavior

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• demonstrate emotional resilience and stability, adaptability, flexibility and tolerance of ambiguity and anxiety

• accurately and adequately document and record information regarding the care process for medical, legal, quality and financial purposes

PATIENT CARE includes age-appropriate assessment, evaluation and management. Physician assistants must demonstrate care that is effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient and equitable for the treatment of health problems and the promotion of wellness. Physician assistants are expected to:

• work effectively with physicians and other health care professionals to provide patient-centered care

• demonstrate caring and respectful behaviors when interacting with patients and their families

• gather essential and accurate information about their patients

• make informed decisions about diagnostic and therapeutic interventions based on patient information and preferences, up-to-date scientific evidence, and clinical judgment

• develop and carry out patient management plans

• counsel and educate patients and their families

• competently perform medical and surgical procedures considered essential in the area of practice

• provide health care services and education aimed at preventing health problems or maintaining health

PROFESSIONALISM is the expression of positive values and ideals as care is delivered. Foremost, it involves prioritizing the interests of those being served above one’s own. Physician assistants must know their professional and personal limitations. Professionalism also requires that PAs practice without impairment from substance abuse, cognitive deficiency or mental illness. Physician assistants must demonstrate a high level of responsibility, ethical practice, sensitivity to a diverse patient population and adherence to legal and regulatory requirements. Physician assistants are expected to demonstrate:

• understanding of legal and regulatory requirements, as well as the appropriate role of the physician assistant

• professional relationships with physician supervisors and other health care providers

• respect, compassion, and integrity

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• responsiveness to the needs of patients and society

• accountability to patients, society, and the profession

• commitment to excellence and on-going professional development

• commitment to ethical principles pertaining to provision or withholding of clinical care, confidentiality of patient information, informed consent, and business practices

• sensitivity and responsiveness to patients’ culture, age, gender, and disabilities

• self-reflection, critical curiosity and initiative PRACTICE-BASED LEARNING AND IMPROVEMENT includes the processes through which clinicians engage in critical analysis of their own practice experience, medical literature and other information resources for the purpose of self-improvement. Physician assistants must be able to assess, evaluate and improve their patient care practices. Physician assistants are expected to:

• analyze practice experience and perform practice-based improvement activities using a systematic methodology in concert with other members of the health care delivery team

• locate, appraise, and integrate evidence from scientific studies related to their patients’ health problems

• obtain and apply information about their own population of patients and the larger population from which their patients are drawn

• apply knowledge of study designs and statistical methods to the appraisal of clinical studies and other information on diagnostic and therapeutic effectiveness

• apply information technology to manage information, access on-line medical information, and support their own education

• facilitate the learning of students and/or other health care professionals

• recognize and appropriately address gender, cultural, cognitive, emotional and other biases; gaps in medical knowledge; and physical limitations in themselves and others

SYSTEMS-BASED PRACTICE encompasses the societal, organizational and economic environments in which health care is delivered. Physician assistants must demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger system of health care to provide patient care that is of optimal value. PAs should work to improve the larger health care system of which their practices are a part. Physician assistants are expected to:

• use information technology to support patient care decisions and patient

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education

• effectively interact with different types of medical practice and delivery systems

• understand the funding sources and payment systems that provide coverage for patient care

• practice cost-effective health care and resource allocation that does not compromise quality of care

• advocate for quality patient care and assist patients in dealing with system complexities

• partner with supervising physicians, health care managers and other health care providers to assess, coordinate, and improve the delivery of health care and patient outcomes

• accept responsibility for promoting a safe environment and recognizing and correcting systems-based factors that negatively impact patient care

• apply medical information and clinical data systems to provide more effective, efficient patient care

• use the systems responsible for the appropriate payment of services PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS The Program recommends that students join the Student Academy of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (SAAAPA), which is the Student Chapter of the AAPA. Students are also strongly encouraged to join the state Physician Assistant chapter. This helps keep students informed of important issues that affect Physician Assistant education and practice. Students may also wish to join specialty societies if they have an interest in those areas. Attendance at the national SAAPA meetings may be approved to attend by the Program. III. DIDACTIC YEAR INFORMATION AND POLICIES

TEXTBOOKS/COURSE SYLABII Students in the Didactic Phase can plan on spending approximately $1,200 to $1,500 on required textbooks. Students must purchase all required textbooks. The Program book list also includes recommended books which students are not required to purchase, but may wish to have as important reference materials. Course syllabi are available for each didactic and clinical course. They will be sent to all students via myUNE campus email. They may also be available by internet access. EQUIPMENT Students in the Didactic Phase will be required to obtain certain medical equipment. A list of required equipment is included with pre-matriculation materials. During the first week of

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class the Program will bring vendors to the school to demonstrate various brands of equipment. The vendors will give the students a group discount, but students are not obligated to purchase the equipment from these vendors. Estimated cost to the student is $550.00 - $775.00. Price is dependent on type, brand and quality of equipment. The University assumes no financial responsibility for this equipment. ATTENDANCE Students are required to attend all scheduled classes and labs, and to come to class on time. In certain classes, attendance and participation may be a part of the grading criteria. Students must notify the Academic Coordinator when any class or lab is missed. Students are responsible for the material covered in any class from which they were absent. Students must notify the course coordinator or academic coordinator if they will be absent from classes for any period of time. The student is required to provide a statement from his/her medical provider for absences due to illness of more than one week. EXAMINATION POLICY Students must contact the Academic Coordinator in advance if they will miss a scheduled examination to arrange for a rescheduled exam. Failure to do so will result in a grade of zero (0) for the exam unless there is a significant extenuating circumstance. Any deviation from this practice may be brought to the Student Affairs Committee for review. COURSE / LECTURER EVALUATION FORMS Evaluation of Courses and Lecturers will be to the students at the end of each module or course. Students are encouraged to give productive feedback about lecturers and courses to the Academic Coordinator. This information is extremely valuable when decisions are made about course content and structure. IV. CLINICAL YEAR INFORMATION AND POLICIES This section provides general information and policies covering the clinical year. Students should contact the PA Program office if any questions or problems arise while on rotations. Use the contact information below to reach PA faculty and staff. For administrative issues such as forms, housing, or any other placement issues students should contact the Clinical Placement Coordinator: Sylvana Alfonso at (207) 221-4526 email: sdalfonso@une.edu. fax #: (207) 878-4711 Students should contact the Clinical Coordinators for issues involving the educational experience of clinical rotations such as grades, relationship with preceptors, incidents at your sites, exams, or evaluations.

Clinical Coordinator Clinical Coordinator Patrick J. Enking, PA-C, MS Laura Corbett, PA-C, MPAS (207) 221-4524 (207) 221-4440 Email: penking@une.edu. lcorbett@une.edu

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Clinical Rotation Sites Clinical rotations consist of six Core, one elective and one Selective rotations designed to provide the Physician Assistant student with the opportunity to observe and participate in the delivery of health care services. The emphasis is on clinical skills development and application of the didactic material presented during Phase I of the Program to real-life clinical situations. All clinical rotations sites will be located within the New England states, unless the clinical coordinator team approves any exceptions. Students are allowed to develop sites within New England with approval from the Clinical Coordinators. There is no limit on the number of new sites a student may develop within New England. Out of System Rotation Sites 1. A student may apply for up to two, six-week rotations at sites that are not considered

established or core PA Program sites outside of New England. 2. The student is responsible for gathering information about the site. Students must use

a Student Request Sheet and follow the instructions listed. The sheet must then be returned to the Clinical Coordinators for review and approval.

3. In reviewing and approving the proposed rotation, the Clinical Coordinators will consider the educational opportunity presented, the location, the potential for further development of the site, the resources needed to approve the site and other information as needed. The Clinical Coordinators have final say on approving the site for training or not.

4. Students requesting consideration for more than two rotations outside New England must submit the request in writing to the Clinical Coordinators with the perceived extenuating circumstances.

STUDENT INVOLVEMENT ON CLINICAL ROTATIONS A student of the University of New England Physician Assistant Program is not a licensed medical provider and, therefore, is legally and ethically not permitted to perform medical acts unless under the direct supervision of a licensed professional. All patients must be presented to the preceptor prior to the implementation of any diagnostic/therapeutic plans or discharge of the patient. The student will not write a prescription for any medication at any time without the direct supervision and the signature of the preceptor. The preceptor is responsible for medical care of the patient and for countersigning all orders, chart documentation, etc., written by the student. Responsibilities of the preceptor are outlined in the Preceptor Handbook. A LICENSED PROVIDER MUST BE PRESENT IN THE FACILITY WHENEVER STUDENTS ARE INTERACTING WITH PATIENTS. Because of legal ramifications, any violation of this policy should be reported immediately to the Clinical Coordinator of the University of New England Physician Assistant Program. PROFESSIONAL LIABILITY The University provides professional liability coverage for each student on a rotation

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assigned or approved by the Clinical Coordinator of the Physician Assistant Program. This coverage is only in effect during the time frame of the assigned rotation. The clinical coordinator provides proof of this coverage to each of the rotation sites. Only institutional affiliates identified by the preceptor and the clinical coordinator will be considered covered sites. If you go to an unapproved site with your preceptor you must not have patient contact. In the event that you become involved in any situation which you believe may result in a professional liability action, whether groundless or not, you must IMMEDIATELY report the incident first verbally, and then in writing to the Clinical Coordinator or, if not available, to the Program Director of the University of New England Physician Assistant Program. HEALTH INSURANCEStudents are expected to have personal health and medical insurance while on clinical rotations. Neither the college nor the host medical facility is responsible for the medical expenses incurred by you during your rotations. LATEX ALLERGY Latex products are extremely common in the medical environment. Students with a history of latex allergy are at risk for future severe reactions upon exposure to latex products. These include: local reaction, eye/nose itching or watering eyes, gastro-intestinal symptoms (pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), constricted sensation in the throat, dyspnea (difficulty breathing), generalized urticaria with angioedema (tissue swelling) and/or anaphylaxis (cardiovascular collapse). Any student with a known latex allergy, or having or describing symptoms consistent with latex allergy, is advised to consult a qualified allergist for evaluation. Such evaluation is at the student’s expense. Any student found to be latex allergic must determine whether or not to continue with clinical training, acknowledging the risk of becoming ill even if after reasonable precautions are taken and accommodations are made. If such a student elects to continue in training, the student must realize that he/she assumes any responsibility and risk posed by allergic reactions, which can range from mild symptoms to anaphylaxis and death. In the event such an allergy is present, either intentional or inadvertent exposure to latex and related products may lead to these consequences. INJURY REPORTING Any major injury incurred while on clinical rotations should be reported to the clinical preceptor or designee and to the clinical coordinator. In the event of contamination of bodily fluids occurs, the student should follow the protocols of the facility they are currently training in to test for exposure. WORKERS COMPENSATION INSURANCE Workers compensation only covers employees of the facilities where you are training. Students are not employees and therefore are not eligible for coverage under the facility’s plan. Students, unless they are employees of the University, are not covered by the University’s workers compensation plan.

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GRADES FOR CLINICAL ROTATIONS Grades for rotations are based on the following:

1. Preceptor evaluation of the student – 60% 2. Rotation examination – 30% 3. Clinical Coordinator grade for professionalism and work submissions – 10%

RECORDING OF ROTATION GRADES Before a rotation grade can be recorded and reported to the Registrar, the following conditions must be fulfilled for each rotation (See below for further explanation):

1. The student performance evaluation must be completed by the preceptor and returned to the Physician Assistant Program by the Preceptor either online or by paper copy.

2. Student evaluation of the rotation site must be completed and returned to the Physician Assistant Program.

3. Completion of patient logs in the Procedure Logger system. All students should make a copy for their records prior to submitting to the program.

Persistent or recurrent problems with submission of materials will be brought to the attention of the Clinical Coordinator and may result in disciplinary action. ROTATION SITE EVALUATIONS Physician Assistant Students must complete one Site Evaluation for each training site attended during the clinical year. Evaluations are intended to be a learning mechanism for the students, preceptors and the Program. They offer the students the opportunity to reflect on new learning and provide feedback to the preceptor on teaching skills. This form is to be returned the Program Office within (5) five business days after the end of the rotation. PATIENT/PROCEDURE LOGS Each student is responsible for completing the rotation patient/procedure log located on the internet at https://www.typhongroup.net/past/data/login.asp?facility=7530 within 5 business days after the end of the rotation. Students are encouraged to enter patient contacts on a daily basis. Students are also encouraged to print a copy of the rotation log prior to submitting the final copy to the program. Paper submissions are not required. All patients must be entered into the procedure logging system. Documentation of each encounter shall include the major diagnoses and the procedures that the student observed, assisted with or performed. Compliance with HIPAA regulations on de-identifying patient information is mandatory. These are important documents, which record the student’s progress and will be reviewed by the clinical coordinators. Students must not carry information with patient names or any identifying information away from their training site. This is a major infraction not just from a program standpoint but a national law pertaining to confidential access to medical information (HIPPA).

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ATTENDANCE POLICY All clinical rotations are six weeks in length. Attendance at all rotation assignments is MANDATORY for the entire time that the student is scheduled. The preceptor will determine the exact schedule at the beginning of the rotation, but it should be based on a minimum of 36 to 40 hour per week schedule. The Clinical Coordinator must approve any exceptions to attendance in writing. Normally time for job interviews or attending conferences is not granted during clinical rotations Students may anticipate taking call, in addition to their week day hours, according to the preceptor's schedule.

ABSENCES Physician Assistant students are expected to keep absences to a strict minimum. Any absence must be reported to the Clinical Placement Coordinator immediately. Significant absences can result in the delay of completion of the Program. Anticipated absence The preceptor and the Clinical Coordinator must approve any absences in advance. Students who notify the preceptor and the clinical coordinator in advance of an assignment date (at least one month prior, preferably more) with a valid reason may be excused from the assignment. Emergency absence Students must report emergency absences to the Preceptor and to the Program Clinical Coordinator as soon as possible. The emergency absence must be reported to both departments within one school day or it becomes an unexcused absence. Reasons for emergency absence might include family or personal emergency, etc. Unexcused absences These absences are considered a breach of professional behavior. They may be judged as a MAJOR INFRACTION and may be brought to the attention of the Student Affairs Committee and the Program Director. They may result in a rotation failure. Reasons, for unexcused absences might include, forgetting or not informing the appropriate people of the absence(s). Students with unexcused absences may be required to: a) Make-up assignments within one week b) Spend additional time at a rotation site c) Apologize to the preceptor if the site was not notified A student shall not participate in any activity such as employment, which would interfere with his/her attendance at lectures, laboratories and clinical rotations. Attending conferences or job interviews are not excused absences. Students violating the Attendance Policy will be referred to the Program Director and/or the Student Affairs Committee. HOUSING POLICY Students are responsible for their own housing during the clinical year. The Program will attempt to identify housing for students for rotation sites that are greater than one hour commuting from the PA Program office at the Westbrook College campus of UNE or the student’s identified housing options. If a student requires housing during a particular

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rotation, it is the student’s responsibility to contact the person indicated in the Letter of Confirmation under the HOUSING heading. The clinical placement coordinator will assist in areas outside of Maine as needed. Any student assigned housing and canceling within two weeks of the rotation will be required to pay $50 for cancellation to the host unless otherwise agreed upon by the hosts. The student will not receive a Certificate of Completion from the PA Program if this has not been paid. TRANSPORTATION POLICY Physician Assistant students are required to have appropriate transportation available for their use while on clinical rotations. Lack of a functioning vehicle is not an acceptable excuse for missing a clinical assignment. GRADUATION WEEK Students will return to campus during the last week of the program. During graduation week, students will participate in activities relating to the completion of PAC 624-Application of Research in Clinical Practice II.