Evaluating Clinical Sites: Meeting the ARC-PA Accreditation Standards

Abstract

INTRODUCTION Clinical rotations are an integral component of physician assistant (PA) education. During clinical rotations, students build on the knowledge gained during the didactic phase of their education and practice newly acquired skills in patient care settings. While in their clinical rotations, students are evaluated by preceptors and faculty to ensure that they are progressing toward the development of clinical competencies. The Accreditation Standards for Physician Assistant Education, third edition,1 published by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) require both the evaluation of students in the clinical setting and the evaluation of the actual clinical sites. The clinical sites and preceptors who mentor our students are essential to the students becoming competent PAs. It is the responsibility of every PA program to ensure that clinical sites and preceptors are meeting student learning needs and program expectations. This article will review the specific standards that address clinical site evaluation and discuss the tools used by the Duke University Physician Assistant Program to comply with those standards.