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Mission, History, & Goals

UNMC Mission

We are Nebraska Medicine and UNMC.
Our mission is to lead the world in transforming lives to create a healthy future for all individuals and communities through premier educational programs, innovative research and extraordinary patient care.

Division of PA Education Mission Statement

We will be innovative leaders in physician assistant education, developing clinicians who practice evidence-based medicine and provide exceptional, team-based care to all individuals and communities.

History

The University of Nebraska Medical Center Physician Assistant Program was established as a result of a mandate from the Nebraska State Legislature in November of 1971. The purpose of the PA Program was to provide primary care providers for rural and underserved areas of Nebraska.

The first students graduated from the Program in 1975 with a bachelor's degree. In 1993, the Program began awarding a Master of Physician Assistant Studies degree and at the time, was one of the first PA programs nationally to offer a master's degree.

As the demand for a master's degree level of physician assistant education increased, in September of 1996, the PA Program established the Distance Learning Program. This Program allowed practicing PAs with a bachelor's degree earn master's degree while continuing to their PA practice.

1. To develop exceptional clinicians

Criterion 1
PAEA End of Curriculum Exam Performance: Performance Levels
Benchmark: At or above the national mean

59% of the graduating cohort 2020 performed at “Advanced Medical Knowledge” compared to the national mean of 25.1%
67% of the graduating cohort 2021 performed at “Advanced Medical Knowledge” compared to the national mean of 25.1%

Criterion 2
Student Graduation Exit Survey
Benchmark: 90% or higher

97.1% of graduates believe that program course objectives are clearly stated and met for the graduating cohorts 2020 and 2021.
97.1% of graduates believe that program faculty demonstrate knowledge of content for the graduating cohorts 2020 and 2021.

Criterion 3
Clinical Preceptor Evaluation student rating of average or higher:
Benchmark: 90% or higher
Results for 2021
Collection/recording of patient history 99.8%
Physical exam and interpretation of findings 99.7%
Oral case presentation 99%
Documentation of clinical encounter 99.7%
Appropriate selection & interpretation of diagnostic tests 99.7%
Ability to perform clinical procedures 99.5%
Prioritize data and identification of problems 99.7%
Problem-Solving and critical thinking 99.8%
Overall medical knowledge base 99.5%
Establishment of tentative diagnosis & differential 99.7%
Ability to develop safe & effective treatment plan 99.7%
Ability to implement treatment plan 99.5%
Provides appropriate patient education 98.2%
Overall Level of Technical Skills 100%

2. To prepare professional graduates

Criterion 1
Program Professionalism Evaluation
Benchmark: 100% of graduates

100% of graduates achieved the rating of Skill Demonstrated (highest rating) on the program Professionalism Evaluation for the graduating cohorts 2020 and 2021.

Criterion 2
Clinical Preceptor Evaluation student rating of average or higher:
Benchmark: 90% or higher
Results for 2021
Overall Professionalism 99.8%
Accepts responsibility for education & self-learning 99.5%
Demonstrates appropriate response to criticism and feedback 99.6%
Demonstrates ethical behavior, truthfulness, integrity 100%
Seeks additional learning opportunities 99.5%
Recognizes own limitations; Seeks help when needed 99.8%
Completes tasks in timely manner / Makes good use of time 99.5%
Shows initiative 99%
Is appropriately self-confident 99.3%
Is respectful to others in all situations 100%
Attitude is positive, approachable & appropriately assertive 99.8%

3. To achieve student satisfaction in their educational experience

Criterion 1
Student Graduation Exit Survey
Benchmark: 90% or higher

94.9% of graduates rate their satisfaction with their PA education as good or higher (5.1% rated fair, 0% rated poor) for the graduating cohorts 2020 and 2021.
98.1% of graduates believe that program faculty provide effective classroom presentations for the graduating cohorts 2020 and 2021.
98.1% of graduates believe that program faculty present their subjects in an understandable way for the graduating cohorts 2020 and 2021.

4. To prepare graduates to achieve 100% pass rate on the PANCE.

Criterion 1
PAEA End of Curriculum Exam Performance: Overall Score
Benchmark: At or above the national mean

Overall Score for 2020 - 1536
Overall Score for 2021 - 1543
National Average - 1495

Criterion 2
UNMC PANCE Exam Review Workshop
Benchmark: 100% of graduates

100% of graduates participated in the UNMC PANCE Exam Review Workshop for the graduating cohorts 2020-2021.

Criterion 3
NCCPA PANCE Results
Benchmark: 100% of graduates pass the PANCE exam

NCCPA PANCE Exam Performance Summary Report March 2023

5. Foster a culture of caring for the underserved.

Criterion 1
Clinical Experiences
Benchmark: 100% of graduates

100% of graduates participated in supervised medical care to underserved populations at free clinics located in Omaha and Kearney, Nebraska for the graduating cohorts 2020-2021.
100% of graduates participated in a rural or underserved clerkship located in Nebraska for the graduating cohorts 2020-2021.

Criterion 2
Clinical Preceptor Evaluation student rating of average or higher:
Benchmark: 90% or higher
Results for 2021
Practices culturally-informed care as appropriate 100%
Sensitive & responsive to culture, gender, age, disabilities & ethnicity of others 100%

6. Admit and graduate students who will add to the diversity of the PA profession.

Criterion 1
Admission Process
Benchmark: Utilize evidence-based best practices for fair admission processes across a
diverse population in health care careers

60% of pre-interview score based on non-academic variables for the graduating cohort 2021.

Criterion 2
Graduation rates
Benchmark: Percent graduated on time is at or above the national average per the PAEA
Program Report 35

Graduated on time 2020: 89.4%
Graduated on time 2021: 94.2%
National average: 93.6%

Over the past 3 years, 98% of students that begin the PA program have successfully graduated from the program.

7. To promote opportunities of leadership.

Criterion 1
Leadership Opportunities
Benchmark: 20% or higher participate in leadership roles

28.8% (19 students per cohort) participated in an elected leadership role within the program, college, or university for each of the graduating cohorts 2020-2021.

Criterion 2
Conference Experience with Nebraska PA’s
Benchmark: 100% of graduates

Nebraska Academy of Physician Assistants (NAPA) Annual Spring Conference in Kearney, NE

Cohort 2020 was canceled due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions
100% of students attended in-person or virtually for the graduating cohort 2021 due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions

8. To develop clinicians who practice effectively in a team-based environment.

Criterion 1
Clinical Preceptor Evaluation student rating of average or higher:
Benchmark: 90% or higher

2021
Effective & efficient communication with team & staff - 100%

Effective & efficient communication with patient & family - 100%

Team oriented, works well with other professionals - 99.8%

9. To develop clinicians engaged in on-going evidence-based medicine practices.

Criterion 1
PAEA End of Curriculum Exam Performance: Locate, critically evaluate, integrate, & appropriately apply scientific evidence to patient care.
Benchmark: At or above the national mean

Locate, critically evaluate, integrate, & appropriately apply scientific evidence to patient care:
2020: 1536
2021: 1545
National Average: 1497

Criterion 2
Clinical phase evidence-based medicine assignments.
Benchmark: Score 90% or higher

Clinical Phase Evidence-based Medicine Assignment Scores:
2019: 96.4%
2020: 96.5%
2021: 95.6%