Unit Policy
Title
Department of Health Sciences, Physician Assistant Program: Policy on Professionalism Monitoring and Support
Introduction
Purpose
This Policy establishes the processes by which the Physician Assistant (PA) Program (Program): (1) provides ongoing monitoring of its students’ (Students) Professionalism; and (2) refers Students who are experiencing Professionalism Difficulty for appropriate resources and support.
Scope
This Policy applies to Program faculty and all Students who have matriculated into the Program.
Policy
Policy Statement
Students are held to high Professionalism standards in accordance with the standards of the PA profession. As such, the Program has established several policies which are focused on Students’ professional behaviors. Students must review the following Program policies in their entirety to ensure their understanding of and adherence to the Professionalism expectations of the Program:
In adhering to the Program’s Professionalism expectations, Students are also expected to meet the Technical Standards for the Program at all times during their enrollment in the Program and will be expected to have met the Competencies of the Program at the time of Program completion.
Assessment of Professionalism
Students’ Professionalism is assessed frequently throughout Students’ time in the Program through review of Students’ attainment of the Program’s Professionalism and Cultural Humility Competency and meeting the Program’s related Technical Standards. Professionalism assessments in simulated patient encounters in Didactic Courses are noted on each course’s rubric, which are published on the individual course sites on the University learning platforms. Students in the Clinical Phase are also assessed by their Preceptors on Professionalism. All Professionalism assessments are directly related to the Instructional Objectives and Learning Outcomes of the course(s) for which the assessments are administered.
All Professionalism requirements of the Program’s policies are consistently applied to all Students, except as may be required by a Student’s reasonable accommodations. Students must submit any accommodations requests related to Professionalism policies, Technical Standards, and specific courses must be submitted through the University’s process with the University Compliance Office. Accommodations cannot be applied retroactively.
Professionalism Improvement Plan
Students found to demonstrate Professionalism Difficulty, either through formal formative and summative assessments or through failure to adhere to the policies and Technical Standards of the Program, will have a Professionalism Improvement Plan created based on areas of deficiency (e.g. policies, Instructional Objectives, Technical Standards, etc.). Professionalism Improvement Plans may be part of Professionalism remediation within a course and assigned by the Course Director if the Professionalism Difficulty is noted within a course. Should the Students demonstrating Professionalism Difficulty may be referred to the Student Progress Committee. The Committee may assign a Professionalism Improvement Plan for the Student to complete.
Students assigned Professionalism Improvement Plans by the Course Director without referral to the Student Progress Committee will meet with the Course Director to discuss the area(s) of Professionalism Difficulty noted within the course, identify area(s) of support needed, referral to resources, as needed, and to review the Professionalism Improvement Plan and the expectations of the Student with regards to the plan. Completed Professionalism Improvement Plans are stored in the Student’s secure electronic file.
Referral to Student Progress Committee
Faculty may choose to refer a Student to the Student Progress Committee for Professionalism Difficulty, including, but not limited to:
- Excessive Absences (as defined by the attendance policies for each phase of the curriculum);
- Excessive tardiness
- Poor communication skills
- Low performance on assessments of Professionalism and Cultural Humility
- Violation of Technical Standards
- Violation of policies
- Other Professionalism concerns
- Concerns regarding mental health and well-being
Faculty referring a Student to the Student Progress Committee for Professionalism concerns will submit the concerns via email to the chair of the Committee. Students referred to the Student Progress Committee will receive, via email, written notification of the referral and access to all materials the Student Progress Committee will consider within ten (10) business days of the referral. Please see the Policy on Student Progress Committee for more information regarding the purpose and procedures of the Student Progress Committee.
Definitions
Clinical Phase: The second phase of the Program’s curriculum following a Student’s successful completion of the Preclinical Phase. The Clinical Phase consists of three (3) semester focused on supervised clinical rotations in a variety of healthcare settings and emphasizes the application of the medical knowledge, patient care, professionalism and cultural humility, interpersonal and communication skills, systems-based practice, and self-assessment skills acquired during the Preclinical Phase with the overall goal of preparing Students for entry into the PA profession.
Didactic Course: All Preclinical Phase courses and all Clinical Seminar courses in the Clinical Phase.
Preclinical Phase: The first year of the Program’s curriculum encompassing both didactic and experiential learning. The Preclinical Phase consists of three semesters designed to provide foundational medical knowledge, patient care, professionalism and cultural humility, interpersonal and communication skills, systems-based practice, and self-assessment skills that prepare Students for the Clinical Phase of the Program’s curriculum.
Professionalism: The collection of attitudes, behaviors, and responsibilities expected of Students as developing healthcare professionals. It includes demonstrating integrity, accountability, cultural humility, respect, reliability, ethical conduct, effective communication, and commitment to learning and patient care.
Professionalism Difficulty: The presence of behavior, including behaviors inconsistent with the Technical Standards, outside of reasonable accommodations, which interferes with a Student’s responsibilities and progress through the Program’s curriculum or that may have influenced a failing grade. Examples of behaviors that may establish Professionalism Difficulty any time during enrollment include, but are not limited to:
- Habitual and unexcused lateness or absenteeism;
- Inappropriate responses to feedback or inappropriate language used in providing feedback;
- Unprofessional or inappropriate interactions with healthcare team members, community members or patients;
- Failure to submit assignments;
- Missing deadlines;
- Dishonesty;
- Lack of responsiveness to communications from instructors or administrative staff;
- Convictions of criminal activity;
- Findings of Professionalism Difficulty by the Program’s healthcare partners (i.e. HIPAA violations, noncompliance with health and safety requirements, falsifying documentation);
- Findings of Professionalism Difficulty by any of the Program’s community partners, including but not limited to Student housing entities, University Office of Student Conduct or other community partners (i.e. sanctions from the University Compliance Office, destruction of property on University Campus, violation of University’s Alcohol Policy);
- Findings of Professionalism Difficulty related to Health and Safety Compliance (i.e. not meeting deadlines, falsifying documents);
- Findings of Professionalism Difficulty which could affect progression through a medical career or future practice such as violent behavior, disrespectful language, inability to regulate oneself in stressful situations, etc.; and/or
- Findings of Professionalism Difficulty even while on leaves of absence including but not limited to away clinical rotations or personal leave.
Professionalism Improvement Plan: A structured, individualized plan developed for a Student who has demonstrated Professionalism Difficulty. Its purpose is to clearly identify the specific behaviors, instructional objectives, or Technical Standards that require improvement, outline the expectations for meeting those standards, and provide appropriate guidance, resources, and support to assist the Student in correcting the Professionalism Difficulty.
Technical Standards: Nonacademic requirements for participation in an educational program or activity. They include physical, cognitive, and behavioral abilities required for satisfactory completion of all aspects of the Program’s curriculum and for entry into the profession.
Related Requirements
External Regulations
Unit Policies, Standards, and Procedures
Contact Information
Primary Contact
Name: Administrative Support Specialist
Telephone: 919-962-8008
Email: paprogram@unc.edu