Physician Assistant Goals and Outcomes
PROGRAM GOALS, OBJECTIVES, AND OUTCOMES
Goal 1: Academic Excellence
Educating PAs who have the medical knowledge and the clinical skills necessary to provide high quality medical care in a variety of clinical settings.
- Set entrustable professional activities (EPA) to ensure excellence in medical knowledge and clinical skills.
- Benchmark: Average of 85% or higher in each EPA.
| EPA | Description | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gather and document essential, accurate information about patients thorough history-taking and physical examination | 90% | 91% | 90% |
| 2 | Create a differential diagnosis using clinical patient information | 89% | 90% | 89% |
| 3 | Identify and interpret diagnostic and screening tests when given clinical patient information | 90% | 89% | 89% |
| 4 | Synthesize clinical information to determine appropriate orders and pharmacologic interventions | 89% | 89% | 89% |
| 5 | Develop and implement patient-centered management and education plans | 90% | 90% | 89% |
| 6 | Locate, critically evaluate, integrate and appropriately apply scientific evidence to patient care | 90% | 89% | 89% |
| 8 | Perform general procedures of a physician assistant | 90% | 90% | 90% |
| 10 | Provide preventative health care services and education | 91% | 90% | 90% |
The percentage is calculated using the preceptor evaluation scores of all students in the cohort over all rotations in the year.
- Employ faculty and staff members with a commitment to providing the highest standard didactic and clinical education.
- Benchmark: Have 100% of faculty/staff positions filled.
| Preceptor Evaluation | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faculty/Staff open positions | 0 | 0 | 1 |
- The exit survey asks students to rate the following on a 5-point Likert scale from agree (5) to disagree (1).
- Benchmark: Rating of 3.5 or higher.
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Faculty effectiveness | 4.89 | 4.78 | 4.36 |
- The exit survey asks students to rate the following on a 5-point Likert scale from agree (5) to disagree (1).
- Benchmark: Rating of 3.5 or higher.
| Exit Survey | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| I feel prepared to take the PANCE | 4.88 | 4.88 | 4.57 |
Goal 2: Preparation for Graduation
Prepare graduating PAs throughout their education to provide quality patient care through: professionalism, effective communication and team work, and excellent medical knowledge.
- Set entrustable professional activities (EPA) to ensure excellence in providing quality patient care in a variety of medical settings.
- Benchmark: Average of 85% or higher in each EPA.
| EPA | Description | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Work and communicate effectively and professionally as a leader or member of an interprofessional health care team to provide patient-centered care | 92% | 91% | 92% |
| 9 | Identify personal weaknesses and/or system failures in order to contribute to a culture of safety and improvement | 92% | 90% | 91% |
| 11 | Recognize and develop strategies to address social determinants of health using culturally competent care | 91% | 90% | 90% |
- The exit survey asks students to rate the following on a 5-point Likert scale from agree (5) to disagree (1), with the following statements (average):
- Benchmark: Rating of 3.5 or higher on each question
| Exit Survey | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| The clinical curriculum was sufficient in preparation for meeting program competencies | 4.85 | 4.63 | 4.53 |
| After completing the Springfield College PA program, I feel prepared as a new graduate to practice medicine. | 4.68 | 4.83 | 4.40 |
- Students are prepared for graduation by demonstrating competence on the program defined summative exam.
- Benchmark: 100% of students passing the summative exam.
| Summative Exam | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passing percentage | 100 | 100 | 100 |
Goal 3: PANCE pass rate
To equip PA students with the comprehensive medical knowledge, clinical reasoning, and professional competencies necessary to achieve successful first-time pass rates on the PANCE.
- Pass rate of first time test takers on NCCPA PANCE.
- Benchmark: Achieve a pass rate equal to the national average exam each year.
| PANCE pass rate | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC | National | SC | National | SC | National | |
| (first time test takers) | 94%* | pending | 100% | 91% | 100% | 92% |
*pending cohort completion
- The exit survey asks students to rate the following on a 5-point Likert scale from agree (5) to disagree (1).
- Benchmark: Rating of 3.5 or higher.
| Exit Survey | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|
| I feel prepared to take the PANCE | 4.88 | 4.88 | 4.57 |
Goal 4: Employment
Prepare PA graduates for successful employment and contribution to the healthcare workforce shortly after graduation.
- Post-Graduate Employment Rate
- Benchmark: A minimum of 90% of graduates employed within 1 year of graduation.
| 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | |
| Employment at 1 year | pending | 100% | 100% |
- The Exit Survey asks students to rate the following on a 5-point Likert scale from agree (5) to disagree (1);
- Benchmark: Rating of 3.5 or higher.
| Exit Survey | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 |
| After completing the SC PA program, I feel prepared as a new graduate to practice medicine | 4.68 | 4.83 | 4.4 |
- The Alumni Survey asks students to rate the following on a 5-point Likert scale from agree (5) to disagree (1);
- Benchmark: Rating of 3.5 or.
| Alumni Survey | 2025 | – | – |
| The curriculum was sufficient in preparation for my PA career | 4.52 |
*Alumni Survey created 2025
