Guide to participation in shadowing and/or mentoring with a physician assistant.

1. Identify yourself as a prospective student who is currently applying to the Physician Assistant Program at The University of Findlay.    
2. Explain that one of the admission criterion is to learn more about the profession*, the role and the responsibilities of a physician assistant.
3. Ask if the PA would be interested in arranging for you to observe their work activities—emphasize observe only—no hands-on experience is permitted.
4. If the physician assistant is willing to have you shadow, be prepared to observe his/her work schedule. For example, if the physician assistant starts at 6:30 a.m. and asks you to meet at that time, it is expected that you will arrive promptly at 6:30 a.m.
5. If it is not convenient for the physician assistant to have you shadow or he/she is not available to serve as a mentor, accept a “no” graciously and try another physician assistant.
6. Dress professionally with “job interview” type attire--jacket and tie for men, dress or pantsuit for women. Sandals, tee shirt and jeans are NOT considered appropriate attire.
7. Do NOT ask questions regarding patient management or hospital practices in front of a patient; save questions for the end of the day or a break time.
8. Always be conscious of the patient’s right to confidentiality and the PA’s need to fulfill the workday’s obligations.
9. At the conclusion of your clinical role-model experience, thank the physician assistant for his/her time. Obtain a signature of the physician assistant on the Health Care Experience Documentation thereby validating the clinical role-model experience.
10. Record the required information listed on the Health Care Experience Documentation. One form MUST be collected for each experience. Three forms are enclosed for your use. Photocopy additional forms if necessary.

*DEFINITION

Physician assistants are health professionals licensed, or in the case of those employed by the Federal Government, credentialed to practice medicine with physician supervision. Physician assistants are qualified by graduation from an accredited physician assistant educational program and certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physicians. Within the physician/PA relationship, physician assistants exercise autonomy in medical decision-making and provide a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services. The clinical role of physician assistants includes primary and specialty care in medical and surgical practice settings in rural and urban areas. Physician assistant practice is centered on patient care and may include educational, research and administrative activities (Source: AAPA 1996).