Physician Assistant Goals and Outcomes
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the Springfield College Physician Assistant Program is to educate students in
spirit, mind, and body for leadership in clinical, community, and academic service to humanity by
building upon its foundations of humanics and academic excellence.
VALUES
1. Academic and Professional Integrity
2. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
3. Interprofessional Education
4. Adaptability and Responsiveness
5. Service to the Community
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 and maintain entrustable professional activities to ensure excellence in medical knowledge and clinical skills.
| EPA | Description | 2024** | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | -- | -- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gather and document essential, accurate information about patients thorough history-taking and physical examination | 90% | 94% | 95% | 93% | ||
| 2 | Create a differential diagnosis using clinical patient information | 89% | 93% | 94% | 93% | ||
| 3 | Identify and interpret diagnostic and screening tests when given clinical patient information | 89% | 93% | 93% | 92% | ||
| 4 | Synthesize clinical information to determine appropriate orders and pharmacologic interventions | 89% | 93% | 93% | 92% | ||
| 5 | Develop and implement patient-centered management and education plans | 89% | 93% | 94% | 92% | ||
| 6 | Locate, critically evaluate, integrate and appropriately apply scientific evidence to patient care | 89% | 93% | 93% | 92% | ||
| 8 | Perform general procedures of a physician assistant | 90% | 93% | 94% | 93% | ||
| 10 | Provide preventative health care services and education | 90% | 93% | 94% | 93% |
*EPA's created 2021. The percentage is calculated using the preceptor evaluation scores of all student in the cohort over all rotations in the year
**Preceptor scoring scale was changed
❖ Employ faculty and staff members with a commitment to providing the highest standard
didactic and clinical education.
➢ Springfield College PA program currently employs 7 full time faculty with an
average of 6 years of full time teaching and 15 years of clinical experience.
❖ The Exit Survey asks students to rate the following on a 5-point Likert scale from agree
(5) to disagree (1); I feel prepared to take the PANCE.
| Exit Survey | 2024 | 2023 | - | - | - |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average score | 4.57 | 4.73 |
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 and maintain entrustable professional activities to ensure excellence in providing
quality patient care in a variety of medical settings.
| EPA | Description | 2024** | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | -- | -- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Work and communicate effectively and professionally as a leader or member of an interprofessional health care team to provide patient-centered care | 92% | 95% | 95% | 93% | ||
| 9 | Identify personal weaknesses and/or system failures in order to contribute to a culture of safety and improvement | 91% | 94% | 94% | 93% | ||
| 11 | Recognize and develop strategies to address social determinants of health using culturally competent care | 90% | 93% | 94% | 93% |
**Preceptor scoring scale was changed
❖ Students are prepared for graduation by achieving the Springfield College PA
competencies.
➢ Each student completes a Program Competency Portfolio, providing evidence
from both didactic and clinical year experiences that each competency was met.
➢ 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):
| Exit Survey | 2024 | 2023 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The clinical curriculum was sufficient in preparation for meeting program competencies | 4.53 | 4.84 | ||||
| After completing the SC PA program, I feel prepared as a new graduate to practice medicine. | 4.40 | 4.76 |
❖ Students are prepared for graduation by demonstrating competence on the program
defined Summative exam.
| Summative Exam | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
(passing percentage) | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 | 100 |
Goal 3: PANCE pass rate
Springfield College PA program will aspire to achieve a pass rate, at or above the national
average for first-time test takers on the NCCPA PANCE exam.
| PANCE pass rate | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SC | National | SC | National | SC | National | SC | National | SC | National | SC | National | |
(first time test takers) | 100% | Pending | 97% | 92% | 91% | 92% | 100% | 93% | 97% | 95% | 100% | 93% |
Goal 4: Employment
Every graduate of the program will be employed within 1 year of graduation.
Post- Graduate Employment Rate (percent):
| Employment at 1 year | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | -- | -- | -- |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| pending | 100% | 100% |
Goal 5: Accreditation
Springfield College is committed to maintaining ARC-PA accreditation status of Continued
ARC-PA Accreditation History
| Date | Status Granted | Next Review |
| July 2016 | Accreditation- Continued | September 2026 |
| March 2010 | Accreditation- Continued | March 2015 |
| March 2003 | Accreditation- Continued | March 2009 |
| March 1999 | Accreditation- Continued | March 2003 |
| April 1996 | First Accreditation | March 1999 |
