Postgraduate Diploma in Physician Assistant Studies

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University of Wolverhampton, School of Health

Comments about Postgraduate Diploma in Physician Assistant Studies - At the institution - Wolverhampton - West Midlands

• Objectives
  The University of Wolverhampton is one of only three universities so far in the country offering this course, which is a collaborative programme with the University of Birmingham, giving you the opportunity to study within the two proactive universities The course aims to produce professionals who have the knowledge, skills and professional behaviours to function as Physician Assistants. This involves the personal and intellectual attributes necessary for lifelong learning and professional development You will experience a variety of assessment methods, which will test the integration of theory and practice: - Reports - Essays - Reflective accounts - Presentations - Written examination - OSCEs (Observed Structured Clinical Examinations) - Portfolio - Direct observation of practice You will also have morbid anatomy sessions and work with simulated patients You can also undertake a National Examination in order to attain the title of Physician Assistant in your award - this examination will be identified as a component of the student practice document You will have a designated medical supervisor and placements are both within secondary and primary care. More than 50% of the programme will be spent in clinically based learning with our National Health Service partners Clinical learning in primary and secondary care settings is fundamental to learning/professional development. This will involve clinic and bedside teaching as well as tutorials and assessment of directly observed practice Although you will have lectures, problem-based learning (PBL) forms a central focus of the teaching approach to theory PBL is supported by experts’ responses to questions posed by student groups, and it is a fundamental element throughout the programme involving clinic and bedside teaching/apprenticeship learning, supervision and reflection/debriefing In both theory and practice, the development of your capacity to direct your own learning is of fundamental importance to life-long professional learning Simulation training (communication, examination and procedural skills) will be an important part of the programme, enabling you to develop competences which can then be refined and consolidated in the clinical situation Specific clinical procedures will be taught in the Clinical Skills Centres, but it is vital that skills are also transferred out into the practice setting
• Entry requirements
  An Honours degree (2.2 or above) in a life science eg. biology, biochemistry, medical science, nursing, physiotherapy Access to the programme may also be via the well developed, accreditation of prior learning (APL) system within the University - students with many years of professional experience and training at Honours level may wish to utilise APL from their previous learning
• Academic title
  Postgraduate Diploma in Physician Assistant Studies
• Course description
  Future prospects
  
  This course will give you the opportunity to train as a Physician Assistant, which mirrors a medical role already established in the USA
  
  A Physician Assistant is defined as:
  
  "a new healthcare professional who, while not a doctor, works to the medical model, with the attitudes, skills and knowledge base to deliver holistic care and treatment within the general medical and/or general practice team under defined levels of supervision.” (The Competence and Curriculum Framework for the Physician Assistant, September 2006)
  
  Typical modules may include
  
  -Assessment Skills for Advanced Clinical Practice
  -Developing the Physician Assistant Role in Primary Care
  -Theoretical Concepts of Health and Disease
  -Advanced Pharmacology for Extended Prescribing
  -The Basics of Clinical Practice in the Physician Assistant Role
  -Clinical Practice in the Physician Assistant Role

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