Credentials and Core Clerkships: Who's Training Our Physician Assistant Students (and Does It Matter)?

Elana A Min; W Patrick Bowden; Laura R Gerstner; Jennifer R Guthrie

doi:10.1097/JPA.0000000000000366

Credentials and Core Clerkships: Who's Training Our Physician Assistant Students (and Does It Matter)?

Elana A Min
, W Patrick Bowden
, Laura R Gerstner
, Jennifer R Guthrie

is the director of clinical education and an assistant professor in the Physician Assistant Program at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Elana A. Min
United States Army War College, Carlisle PA
W. Patrick Bowden
is an assistant professor in the School of Medicine
Division of Physician Assistant Education
at Oregon Health & Science University
Laura R. Gerstner
MSHS
is director of clinical education and an associate professor for the Campbell University Physician Assistant Program
Jennifer R. Guthrie
MPAS
is director of experiential education and an associate professor for the Butler University Physician Assistant Program

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

PURPOSE: Evaluating the effectiveness of supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs) is a primary responsibility of the clinical education team. Physician assistant (PA) education is unique because preceptors are not confined to one professional credential. This study evaluated the relationship between students' perceptions of rotation experiences and the professional credentials of the preceptor of record.

METHODS: This retrospective data analysis evaluated data from 3 cohorts (2016-2018) across 4 PA programs. Preceptors of record were categorized as MDs/DOs or advanced practice providers (APPs).

RESULTS: Analysis of 209 SCPEs found 91 APP preceptors (43%) and 119 MD/DO preceptors (57%). APP preceptors were most prevalent in family medicine/primary care (57%), internal medicine (50%), and emergency medicine (49%). Students' evaluation scores were higher for APP preceptors compared to MD/DO preceptors, but not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that a considerable number of APPs are serving as preceptors and were found to have similar student evaluation scores to those of MD/DO preceptors.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	185-188
Number of pages	4
Journal	The journal of physician assistant education : the official journal of the Physician Assistant Education Association
Volume	32
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1097/JPA.0000000000000366
State	Published - Aug 1 2021
Externally published	Yes

Keywords

Family Practice/education
Humans
Physician Assistants/education
Preceptorship
Retrospective Studies
Students

Access to Document

10.1097/JPA.0000000000000366

Cite this

Credentials and Core Clerkships: Who's Training Our Physician Assistant Students (and Does It Matter)? / Min, Elana A; Bowden, W Patrick; Gerstner, Laura R et al.
In: The journal of physician assistant education : the official journal of the Physician Assistant Education Association, Vol. 32, No. 3, 01.08.2021, p. 185-188.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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abstract = "PURPOSE: Evaluating the effectiveness of supervised clinical practice experiences (SCPEs) is a primary responsibility of the clinical education team. Physician assistant (PA) education is unique because preceptors are not confined to one professional credential. This study evaluated the relationship between students' perceptions of rotation experiences and the professional credentials of the preceptor of record.METHODS: This retrospective data analysis evaluated data from 3 cohorts (2016-2018) across 4 PA programs. Preceptors of record were categorized as MDs/DOs or advanced practice providers (APPs).RESULTS: Analysis of 209 SCPEs found 91 APP preceptors (43\%) and 119 MD/DO preceptors (57\%). APP preceptors were most prevalent in family medicine/primary care (57\%), internal medicine (50\%), and emergency medicine (49\%). Students' evaluation scores were higher for APP preceptors compared to MD/DO preceptors, but not statistically significant.CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that a considerable number of APPs are serving as preceptors and were found to have similar student evaluation scores to those of MD/DO preceptors.",

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