BioHealth Programs, Certificates and Degrees

Primary Care Associate Program     (2008-2009)
The Primary Care Associate Program, cooperatively administered by the Stanford University School of Medicine and Foothill College, prepares physician assistants and family nurse practitioners to provide primary care services with physician supervision. Physician assistants (PAs) and family nurse practitioners (FNPs) improve the quality of and access to health care for medically underserved populations. The Program’s curriculum emphasizes the skills necessary to recognize and treat common primary care problems that include acute, chronic, emergent or surgical conditions in patients of all ages. Our students are trained to: evaluate the health status of patients; diagnose and treat common illnesses; manage stable chronic diseases; deliver preventive care; counsel patients about family, psychosocial, and health-related problems. The curriculum includes lectures, seminars, laboratory groups and clinical preceptorships. Classroom and clinical learning experiences are integrated throughout the 16-month Program. Clinical placements emphasize primary care and include hospital and specialty rotations. After completing the entire curriculum, a Certificate of Clinical Proficiency is awarded by the Stanford University School of Medicine. The Program trains all students for practice as physician assistants. In addition, registered nurses who graduate from the Program are eligible to practice as family nurse practitioners in California. Brochures and applications may be obtained July through September by contacting the Primary Care Associate Program at: PCA Program, 1215 Welch Road, Modular G, Stanford, CA 94305-5408; telephone: 650-725-6959; web site: http://pcap.stanford.edu ; e-mail: pcap-information@lists.stanford.edu; fax: 650-723-9692.
Career Opportunities
Physician assistant and Family nurse practitioner (registered nurses who graduate from the Program are eligible to practice as FNPs in California) PAs and FNPs practice in all health care settings, including clinics, private physician offices, hospitals, emergency departments and long-term care facilities. The Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the total number of PA jobs in the U.S. will grow by 50% by 2014. Our program emphasizes employment in rural and inner-city medically underserved communities.
Units required for Major: 86
Units required for Certificate: 86
Associate Degree Requirements:
• English proficiency: ENGL 1A, ESL 26 or equivalent. • Mathematics proficiency: MATH 103/105 or equivalent. A minimum of 90 units required to include: • All General Education requirements • All Program academic prerequisites for admission • All required Primary Care core courses (86 Units) • Electives & other graduation requirements as appropriate. Questions regarding General Education (GE) and prerequisite requirements can be answered by the Counseling office. To schedule an appointment with the PCA Program Counselor call (650) 949-7423. NOTE: All courses pertaining to the major must be taken for a letter grade. In addition, a GPA of 2.0 or higher is required in all Core and Support courses for the Degree or Certificates.
Program Type(s):
	AS = Associate in Science Degree.
	CA = Certificate of Achievement.
APPLICATION DEADLINE: OCTOBER 1st PROGRAM ADMISSION Academic Prerequisites All applicants must complete the following courses at a regionally accredited institution in the United States with a grade of “C” or better: Human Anatomy with lab • Human Physiology with lab • Microbiology with lab. • Intermediate Algebra - One year of high school or One college course or equivalent • Introductory Chemistry - One year of high school or One college course • English Composition – English 1A or equivalent • Introduction to Sociology or Introduction to Cultural Anthropology • General Psychology. NOTE: Anatomy, Physiology, and Microbiology must be completed by application date. NOTE: A criminal background check is required by the Program. Drug testing may be required by clinical facilities. Positive results could impact a student’s chances of attending clinics, completing the program requirements or gaining a license to practice upon graduation. Students are responsible for the cost of the required screenings and tests. Clinical Prerequisites A minimum of 3,000 hours of direct patient care experience must be completed by the application deadline. This requirement can be met with 18 months of full-time work experience or equivalent part-time hours (paid and/or volunteer). Hours accrued as a student in a training program cannot be used to meet clinical prerequisites. The amount of direct patient contact and level of patient care responsibility are considered when evaluating prior medical experience. Successful applicants come from a variety of clinical backgrounds, including but not limited to: Medical Assistant (Back Office), Military Medical Corpsman, Nurse (RN or LVN), Paramedic, Radiologic Technician, Physical Therapist, Respiratory Therapist. Other clinical experiences involving direct patient care are evaluated on an individual basis. Preceptorships The Primary Care Associate Program offers a curriculum that emphasizes community-based clinical training in combination with a didactic program. Much of the training takes place in the office of a preceptor - a practicing physician who teaches the student during the course of his/her regular practice. The Program offers guidance in finding a preceptor but expects that the student will propose potential sites. It is important to identify a compatible preceptor because the preceptorship is a crucial part of our training model. During the preceptorship, the Program retains responsibility for student training and evaluation. The commitment of a general or family physician to serve as the student’s preceptor is not an admission requirement. However, once students are admitted to the program, they are required to have an approved preceptor by August 21st or risk forfeiting their place in the class. Preceptorships occur in a variety of clinical settings throughout California. Applicants from the community satellites, if accepted, must propose preceptors in their designated satellite county.
Core Courses: (86 units)
CURRICULUM The program is 16 months in length, presented in five quarters (with a possibility of extending into a sixth quarter) and leads to a Certificate of Achievement. All courses must be taken in sequence. Fall Quarter PC 80 Family Medicine Didactic (14 Units) PC 190Z Directed Studies in Primary Care Medicine (2 Units) PC 80P Family Medicine Clinical (5 Units) Students attend classes at Stanford Mondays through Thursdays. Fridays are spent in preceptorships. Each week a different system is highlighted with lectures that focus on common clinical problems. Winter Quarter PC 81 Family Medicine Didactic (8 Units) PC 81P Family Medicine Clinical (8 Units) Students are in preceptorships for 12 days per month and attend classes one week/month. Students learn the diagnosis and management of common problems covered in lectures. Spring Quarter PC 82 Family Medicine Didactic (8 Units) PC 82P Family Medicine Clinical (9 Units) Students continue to learn about management of acute and chronic primary health care problems. Summer Quarter PC 83 Family Medicine Didactic (6 Units) PC 83P Family Medicine Clinical (9 Units) Students learn to recognize and initiate treatment for life threatening emergencies, and participate in the care of hospitalized and surgical patients. Fall Quarter (5th Quarter) PC 84 Family Medicine Didactic (8 Units) PC 84P Family Medicine Clinical (9 Units) This quarter is an integration of medical conditions presented in previous quarters with a continued emphasis on family medicine.
Support Courses: (see below)
Courses offered only by special arrangement. PC 85 Special Clinical Projects (4 Units) PC 85X Special Clinical Projects (5 Units) PC 85Y Special Clinical Projects (6 Units) PC 86 Special Didactic Projects (4 Units) PC 86X Special Didactic Projects (5 Units) PC 86Y Special Didactic Projects (6 Units)
Certificate of Achievement (86 Units)
A certificate is awarded at the completion of all program prerequisites and core course requirements taken in sequence. General education courses are not required.
Academic Year: 2008-2009
Status: Approved
Date Modified: 2008-04-02 20:38:56
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