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Physician Assistant Program Information

The mission of the Indiana State University Physician Assistant Program is to create a student-centered educational environment that engages individuals to become compassionate, competent physician assistants who possess the clinical skills to contribute positively to the dynamic health care needs of rural and underserved populations.

Mission

The mission of the Indiana State University Physician Assistant Program is to create a student-centered educational environment that engages individuals to become compassionate, competent physician assistants who possess the clinical skills to contribute positively to the dynamic health care needs of rural and underserved populations.

Program Accreditation

At its September 2023 meeting, the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA) placed the Indiana State University Physician Assistant Program sponsored by Indiana State University on Accreditation-Probation status until its next review in September 2025.

Probation accreditation is a temporary accreditation status initially of not less than two years. However, that period may be extended by the ARC-PA for up to an additional two years if the ARC-PA finds that the program is making substantial progress toward meeting all applicable standards but requires additional time to come into full compliance. Probation accreditation status is granted, at the sole discretion of the ARC-PA, when a program holding an accreditation status of Accreditation - Provisional or Accreditation - Continued does not, in the judgment of the ARC-PA, meet the Standards or when the capability of the program to provide an acceptable educational experience for its students is threatened.

Once placed on probation, a program that fails to comply with accreditation requirements in a timely manner, as specified by the ARC-PA, may be scheduled for a focused site visit and is subject to having its accreditation withdrawn.

Specific questions regarding the Program and its plans should be directed to the Program Director and/or the appropriate institutional official(s).

The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at https://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-indiana-state-university/.

Physician Assistant Program Competencies

The PA profession is provided a framework of competencies developed by NCCPA, ARC-PA, PAEA, and AAPA that defines the specific knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are required by the profession for entry-level practice. The competencies below reflect the expected competencies as they pertain to graduates of the Indiana State University Master of Physician Assistant Program as they enter the profession.

Upon completion of the Indiana State University Physician Assistant program, graduates will demonstrate competence in each of the following domains:

Physician assistants must demonstrate knowledge about established and evolving biomedical and clinical sciences and the application of this knowledge to patient care. PAs should be able to: 

  1. Demonstrate investigative and critical thinking skills in clinical situations.
  2. Apply principles of epidemiology to identify health problems, risk factors, treatment strategies, resources, and disease prevention/health promotion strategies for individuals and populations.
  3. Discern among acute, chronic, and emergent disease states.
  4. Apply principles of clinical sciences to diagnose disease and utilize therapeutic decision-making, clinical problem-solving, and other evidence-based practice skills.
  5. Adhere to standards of care, and to relevant laws, policies, and regulations that govern the delivery of care in the United States.
  6. Work effectively and efficiently in various healthcare delivery settings and systems.
  7. Identify and address social determinants that affect access to care and deliver high quality care in a value-based system.

Physician assistants must demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in the effective exchange of information and collaboration with patients, their families, and healthcare professionals. PAs should be able to: 

  1. Establish meaningful and therapeutic relationships with patients and their families.
  2. Communicate information to patients and their families in a way that is culturally sensitive and contextually appropriate.
  3. Recognize communication barriers and provide solutions.
  4. Demonstrate emotional intelligence in the development of the therapeutic relationship.
  5. Demonstrate the ability to effectively communicate with patients, their families, and members of the healthcare team via oral communication.
  6. Accurately and adequately document and record information regarding the care process for medical, legal, quality and financial purposes.

Physician assistants provide person-centered care that includes patient and setting-specific assessment, evaluation, and management and healthcare that is evidence-based, supports patient safety, and advances health equality. PAs should be able to: 

  1. Gather accurate and essential information about patients through history taking, physical examination, and diagnostic testing.
  2. Apply the context of the individual’s life to their care, such as environmental and cultural influences.
  3. Interpret data based on patient information and preferences, current scientific evidence, and clinical judgement to make informed decisions about diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.
  4. Develop, implement, and monitor effectiveness of patient management plans.
  5. Attain proficiency to safely perform medical, diagnostic, and surgical procedures for entry level practice.
  6. Counsel, educate, and empower patients and their families to participate in their care and enable shared decision-making.
  7. Provide healthcare services to patients, families, and communities to prevent health problems and to maintain health.

Physician assistants demonstrate the ability to engage with a variety of other healthcare professionals in a manner that optimizes safe, effective, patient- and population-centered care. PAs should be able to: 

  1. Work effectively with other health professionals to provide collaborative, patient-centered care.
  2. Communicate effectively with colleagues and other professionals to establish and enhance interprofessional teams.
  3. Understand the roles and responsibilities of other healthcare professionals and the importance of a team approach to develop optimal strategies to enhance patient care.
  4. Recognize when to refer patients to other disciplines to ensure that patients receive optimal care at the right time and appropriate level.

Physician assistants demonstrate a commitment to practicing medicine in ethically and legally appropriate ways and emphasizing professional maturity and accountability for delivering safe and quality care to patients and populations. PAs should be able to: 

  1. Adhere to standards of care in the role of the PA in the healthcare team.
  2. Demonstrate compassion, integrity and respect for others.
  3. Demonstrate cultural humility and responsiveness to a diverse patient population including diversity in sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, culture, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, religion, and abilities.
  4. Exercise good judgment and fiscal responsibility when utilizing resources.
  5. Demonstrate flexibility and professional civility during stressful events.
  6. Implement leadership practices and principles.

Physician assistants demonstrate the ability to learn and implement quality improvement practices by engaging in critical analysis of one’s own practice experience, the medical literature, and other information resources for self-evaluation, lifelong learning, and practice improvement. PAs should be able to: 

  1. Exhibit self-awareness to identify strengths, address deficiencies, and recognize limits in knowledge and expertise.
  2. Identify, analyze, and adopt new knowledge, guidelines, and standards, technologies, products, or services that are evidence-based.
  3. Identify improvement goals and perform learning activities that address gaps in knowledge, skills, and attitudes.
  4. Use practice performance data and metrics to identify areas for improvement.
  5. Understand how practice decisions impact the finances of organizations, while keeping the patient’s needs foremost.

Physician assistants recognize and understand the influences of the ecosystem of person, family, population, environment, and policy on the health of patients and integrate knowledge of these determinants of health into patient care decisions. PAs should be able to: 

  1. Apply principles of social-behavioral sciences by assessing the impact of psychosocial and cultural influences on health, disease, care seeking, and compliance.
  2. Recognize the influence of genetic, socioeconomic, environmental, and other determinants of the health of the individual and community.
  3. Demonstrate accountability, responsibility, and leadership for removing barriers to health.

Program Graduate Outcomes / PANCE Scores

The Indiana State University Physician Assistant Program expects that:

The first-time test taker PANCE rate will be, at a minimum, equal to the national passing rate for that year.
- PANCE Performance Summary
- PANCE Rate Summary Report

Indiana State University 
Physician Assistant Program 
Student Attrition

 

Graduated Classes

Class of 2022

Class of 2023

Class of 2024

Maximum entering class size (as approved by ARC-PA)303030
Entering class size303030
Graduates293030
*Attrition rate3.33%0%0%
**Graduation rate96.67100%100%

*Attrition rate calculation:  Number of students who attritted from cohort divided by the entering class size.

**Graduation rate:  Number of cohort graduates divided by the entering class size.
 

The graduation rate will be 95% or better for all cohorts, based on Program history.
- The graduation rate for the Class of 2024 is 100% 
- The graduation rate for the Class of 2023 is 100% 
- The graduation rate for the Class of 2022 is 97% 
- The graduation rate for the Class of 2021 is 100%.

The deceleration rate will be 5% or less, based on Program history.
- Class of 2024 - deceleration rate = 0%
- Class of 2023 - deceleration rate = 3%
- Class of 2022 - deceleration rate = 3%
- Class of 2021 - deceleration rate = 0%

That the employment rate will be 95% or better for all Program graduates, at six months after successful PANCE completion.
- In the past two years, the employment rate for ISU PA Program graduates is 100%.
- - Rate is based on respondents to the Alumni Survey
 

Program Goals

The results of the assessments of the achievement of the goals of the ISU-PA program have exceeded the program’s benchmarks for the past three years. Alumni are surveyed after they have been in professional practice for two years (cohort of 2022) and graduating students are assessed through an exit survey (cohort 2023). Results for these latest assessments are provided below.  

Practice in a cost-effective and socially responsible manner, applying the principles of evidence-based medicine and critical thinking in clinical decision-making.

Source: 2024 Exit survey, graduating students

Benchmark: 4.0 on 5-point scale for each program goal

Assessment item with results:
Based on your experiences in the ISU-PA Program, please indicate your level of agreement that you are prepared to be successful in each of the following areas:

  • Practice in a cost effective and socially responsible manner – 4.77
  • Applying the principles of evidence-based medicine and critical thinking in clinical decision making – 4.77

One hundred percent of graduating students agreed or strongly agreed that the ISU Program prepared them to practice in a cost-effective and socially responsible manner and 100% of agreed or strongly agreed that the ISU Program prepared them to know how to apply principles of evidence-based medicine and critical thinking in clinical decision-making.
In addition, students participate in and have access to:

  • Problem and team-based learning exercises with faculty and other health providers
  • A Research Symposium at the end of their clinical year, with presentations of a research project that has spanned the duration of their time in the program.
  • Up-to-Date © (evidence-based clinical decision support at the point of care)

Source: 2022 Alumni survey, graduates two years into practice

Benchmark: 3.0 on 5-point scale for each goal

Assessment item with results:
How would you rate the quality of the preparation you received from ISU in each of these areas:

  • Practice in a cost effective and socially responsible manner – 3.43
  • Applying the principles of evidence-based medicine – 4.43
  • Critical thinking in decision making – 3.71

Of the alumni who have been in professional practice for two years, 86% indicated that the preparation they received was good to excellent to enable them to practice in a cost-effective and socially responsible manner. Eighty-six percent indicated that the preparation they received was good to excellent to enable them to apply the principles of evidence-based medicine and 86% indicated that they were prepared to apply critical thinking in decision making.

Practice compassionate primary care medicine, communicating effectively with patients and families.

Source: 2024 Exit survey, graduating students

Benchmark: 4.0 on 5-point scale for each program goal

Assessment item with results:
Based on your experiences in the ISU-PA Program, please indicate your level of agreement that you are prepared to be successful in each of the following areas:

  • To practice compassionate primary care medicine – 4.81
  • To communicate effectively with patients and families – 4.74

One hundred percent of graduating students agreed or strongly agreed that the ISU Program prepared them to “practice compassionate primary care medicine” and 97% agreed or strongly agreed that the ISU Program prepared them to “communicate effectively with patients and families.”
In addition, students participate in activities such as:

  • Community and university health fairs providing education and screenings
  • Free physicals at community events
  • Health education at community events
  • Indiana Special Olympics

Source: 2022 Alumni survey, graduates two years into practice

Benchmark: 3.0 on 5-point scale for each program goal

Assessment item with results:
How would you rate the quality of the preparation you received from ISU in each of these areas:

  • Practice compassionate primary care medicine – 4.0
  • Communicate effectively with patients and families – 4.0

Of alumni who have been in professional practice for two years, 86% rated their preparation to “practice compassionate primary care medicine” as very good to excellent and 86% rated their preparation to “communicate effectively with patients and families” as very good to excellent.

Partner with supervising physicians and other professional colleagues, including the need to serve rural and underserved areas.

Source: 2024 Exit survey, graduating students

Benchmark: 4.0 on 5-point scale for each program goal

Assessment item with results:
Based on your experiences in the ISU-PA Program, please indicate your level of agreement that you are prepared to be successful in each of the following areas:

  • To partner with supervising physicians and other professional colleagues – 4.74
  • To serve rural and underserved areas – 4.74

On the exit survey, 96% of the graduating students agreed or strongly agreed that the ISU Program prepared them to be successful in partnering with supervising physicians and other professional colleagues and 100% agreed or strongly agreed that the ISU Program prepared them to serve in rural and underserved areas.
In addition, faculty and students have participated in and have access to:

  • Clinical rotation availability in rural and underserved areas
  • Indiana Association Physician Assistant Annual Conference
  • Association of Physician Assistants Annual Conference
  • Lobbying at the state capital to advance PA legislation
  • Presenting at the Great Lakes Athletic Training Association Annual Conference
  • IPE Events involving professional colleagues such Social Work, Nursing, and Respiratory Therapy

Source: 2022 Alumni survey, graduates two years into practice

Benchmark: 3.0 on 5-point scale for each program goal

Assessment item with results:
Based on your experiences in the ISU-PA Program, please indicate your level of agreement that you are prepared to be successful in each of the following areas:

  • Partner with supervising physicians and other professional colleagues – 4.71

Of alumni who have been in professional practice for two years, 86% rated preparation to “practice compassionate primary care medicine,” as very good to excellent.

Utilize practice and system-based analysis to ensure patient well-being.

Source: 2024 Exit survey, graduating students

Benchmark: 4.0 on 5-point scale for each program goal

Assessment item with results:
Based on your experiences in the ISU-PA Program, please indicate your level of agreement that you are prepared to be successful in each of the following areas:

  • Prepared to utilize practice and system-based analysis to ensure patient well-being – 4.74

On the exit survey, 100% of the graduating students agreed or strongly agreed that the ISU Program prepared them to “utilize practice and system-based analytics to ensure patient well-being.”
In addition, faculty and students utilize:

  • Clinical rotations in all core specialties
  • Provider level lectures at local hospitals (Grand Rounds)
  • The Rural Health Innovation Collaborative Simulation Center at Union Hospital to provide hands-on learning and application of various clinical situations

Source: 2022 Alumni survey, graduates two years into practice

Benchmark: 3.0 on 5-point scale for each program goal

Assessment item with results:
Based on your experiences in the ISU-PA Program, please indicate your level of agreement that you are prepared to be successful in each of the following areas:

  • Utilize practice and system-based analysis to ensure patient well-being – 3.14

Of alumni who have been in professional practice for two years, 71% rated their preparation to “utilize practice and system-based analysis to ensure patient well-being” as very good or excellent.

Commit to high ethical standards responsive to the needs of the profession, the individual, and society.

Source: 2022 Alumni survey, graduates two years into practice

Benchmark: 3.0 on 5-point scale for each program goal

Assessment item with results:
Based on your experiences in the ISU-PA Program, please indicate your level of agreement that you are prepared to be successful in each of the following areas:

  • Commit to high ethical standards responsive to the needs of the profession, the individual and society – 4.0

Narrative: Of alumni who have been in professional practice for two years, 86% indicated that their experiences in the ISU-PA Program prepared them to be successful in their “commitment to high ethical standards responsive to the needs of the profession, individual and society.”
Students are taught and expected to:

  • Respect and understand the needs of a diverse population
  • Understand the scope of the PA profession and practice medicine that is socially responsible
  • Uphold the PA Professional Oath that is recited at the White Coat Ceremony for students entering into their clinical year

Source: 2024 Exit survey, graduating students

Benchmark: 4.0 on 5-point scale for each program goal

Assessment item with results:
Based on your experiences in the ISU-PA Program, please indicate your level of agreement that you are prepared to be successful in each of the following areas:

  • Commit to high ethical standards responsive to the needs of the profession, the individual and society – 4.87

One hundred percent of graduating students agreed or strongly agreed that the ISU Program prepared them to “commit to high ethical standards responsive to the needs of the profession, the individual and society.”