Masters Degrees (Physician Associate)

About the course

This intensive and exciting new programme provides all the essential skills and knowledge necessary to become a Physician Associate in the UK. In addition, it provides the challenges of enhanced knowledge synthesis and research to produce academic clinicians equipped to lead and develop the profession.

The Department of Health's Competence and Curriculum Framework for the Physician Assistant (now Physician Associate) defines the Physician Associate as:

…a new healthcare professional who, while not a doctor, works to the medical model, with the attitudes, skills and knowledge base to deliver holistic care and treatment within the general medical and/or general practice team under defined levels of supervision.

Physician Associates (PAs) are part of a new and growing profession within the NHS. PAs work alongside doctors in hospitals and GP surgeries to provide safe and quality care to patients. PAs, under supervision of doctors, may obtain medical histories, perform physical examinations, carry out diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, request and interpret test results, diagnose illnesses and develop treatment and management plans.

The Physician Associate MSc programme includes over 1,800 hours of professional practice and will fully prepare you to practise in a wide variety of specialties and settings. Currently PAs work in General Practice, Emergency Medicine, and multiple Adult Medical and Surgical specialties.

Successful completion of the Physician Associate MSc programme provides eligibility to sit for the Physician Associate National Examination and join the Managed Voluntary Register.

If you are considering studying the Physician Associate MSc Programme at Brunel University London then you are committed to working jointly with the NHS to demonstrate the values and beliefs of the constitution.

NHS Values
Patients, public and staff have helped develop this expression of values that inspire passion in the NHS and that should underpin everything it does. Individual organisations will develop and build upon these values, tailoring them to their local needs. The NHS values provide common ground for co-operation to achieve shared aspirations, at all levels of the NHS.

Aims

The aim of the Physician Associate MSc programme is to prepare you as a medical professional who strives for excellence in clinical practice. To achieve this aim, the programme provides you with a strong scientific foundation and encourages the development of excellent practical and clinical reasoning skills. All of this is essential for you to treat patients safely and effectively.

The programme also provides you with the means to critically evaluate your own patient care – a skill which is vital to continuing evidence-based practice. A sound working knowledge of research methodology provides the basis for this evaluation process and also the tools to develop your own research interests at any stage of your professional career.

In addition, it helps develop vital communication skills and soundly embeds the essential core values of professionalism. Indeed, the Master's programme aims to produce highly professional graduates with excellent communication skills. Graduates are able to function as adaptable clinicians and fully interactive members of the multidisciplinary health care team within a changing health and social care setting.

Course Content

Our Physician Associate Master's course is an exciting and innovative modular programme, delivered full-time over two years.
Applicants should be aware that the programme is delivered over a period 45 weeks in Year 1 and 48 weeks in Year 2. In addition the course is intense, with significant contact hours. Students should expect to be studying on campus from 9am - 6pm five days a week. All students must be ready to assume responsibility for their own learning.

Clinical placements will start in the first term of Year 1 with weekly one-day GP placements. In Year 2 the majority of time will be spent on clinical placement in various practice settings. You should broadly expect to adopt the working patterns of the supervising clinician (clinical educator). Generally, you are expected to complete 42 weeks of clinical experience. You should expect to be working roughly a 40-hour week whilst on placement.

Compulsory Modules:

Foundations of Clinical Medicine (Year 1 & 2)
Personal and Professional Development for the Physician Associate (Year 1 & 2)
Applied Pharmacology (Year 1)
Principles and Practice of Evidence-Based Healthcare (Year 1)
Approaches to Research (Year 1)
Dissertation (Year 1 & 2)
PA Applied Clinical Knowledge & Skills (Year 2)

For the award of MSc Physician Associate, students must pass the UK Physician Associate National Certification Examination.

Work Placements

Clinical placements will include rotations in the following areas:

• Accident and Emergency
• Acute Medicine
• General Practice
• Mental Health
• Obstetrics and Gynaecology
• Paediatrics
• Surgery
• Electives

Whilst on placements you will be supervised by doctors and physician associates. You will be assessed on placement by your supervising clinician(s). The assessment score from clinical placement modules will contribute to your final degree classification.

All clinical placement modules are organised on the student's behalf by the clinical co-ordination team. This allows us to provide you with a balanced clinical experience both in terms of the specialties/patient groups you have worked with and the range of health care setting you have worked in. It is important that you are exposed to a variety of health settings, which are reflective of current clinical practice.

We are sympathetic to your needs when we assign clinical placements. However, we are unable to guarantee that any student will be located close to their home or term-time address and you may have to commute or live away from home for the duration of a placement or two. We do try to give special consideration to students whose personal circumstances fall within specified criteria, ie they have young children, are a main carer, or have a declared disability etc.

Teaching

A mix of teaching/learning approaches are used including: classroom based learning, problem/evidence-based learning, peer-assisted learning, clinical practice learning, independent learning, e-learning, assimilated learning in clinical labs, and the use of trained teaching associates for intimate examinations. Emphasis will be placed on active student participation, reflection and learning.

As a Physician Associate MSc student we expect you to come to us with specific academic skills and abilities. Your learning will rapidly become self-directed. We will build upon your ability to perform literature searches and critically appraise the evidence base and so prepare you for your commitment to continued professional development and lifelong learning after qualifying.

Assessment

Assessments will include single best answer/multiple choice questions papers and Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCEs) to begin early preparation for the National Examination. Other assessments will include written assignments, oral presentations, reflection papers, and a portfolio of evidence.

All modules must be passed in order to proceed through the course. Normally students will have two attempts at passing each assessment.

Special Features

You’ll study in purpose-built facilities in our multi-million pound health sciences building and you’ll share elements of your course with Master’s students from other health-related disciplines.

You’ll enjoy our campus university, where you’re never more than a ten minute walk from halls of residence, catering, social, sports and study facilities, lecture theatres, the Library and support services.

You’ll be taught by experts in delivering accredited programmes such as Biosciences, Occupational therapy and Physiotherapy.

You’ll complete 1800 hours of clinical placement during the course.

On successful completion of the Physician Associate MSc programme, you will be eligible to sit for the Physician Associate National Examination and join the Managed Voluntary Register.

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This programme of study, skills development and placement experience allows you to build upon a first degree in biosciences, life sciences or health sciences in order to function as a qualified physician associate.

The programme teaches you to assess, diagnose and manage medical problems competently, consulting with patients presenting with a variety of specified conditions on behalf of, and under supervision of, a senior experienced doctor.

By the end of the programme, you will be able to deliver holistic medical care and treatment to a standard defined by the National Examination for Physician Associates, which will enable you to work in either Primary or Secondary Care.

Programme structure

The programme consists of eight taught modules.

On successful completion of the programme, students will receive a Post Graduate Diploma in Physician Associate Studies, but will also need to sit a National Examination comprising a written paper and OSCE examination, set by the Faculty of Physician Associates at the Royal College of Physicians, in order to be able to practise in the NHS.

On passing the National Examinations, the graduate can be registered on the National Register (currently a Voluntary Register but awaiting accreditation and appointment of a Regulatory Body). The graduate can only work as a physician associate in the NHS if he/she is on this National Register.

Example module listing

The following modules are indicative, reflecting the information available at the time of publication. Please note that not all modules described are compulsory and may be subject to teaching availability and/or student demand.

• Introduction to Case Based Life Course Medicine
• Case Based Life Course Medicine 2
• Case Based Life Course Medicine 3 
• Case Based Life Course Medicine 4 
• Clinical Medicine – Mother and Child, and Psychiatry
• Clinical Medicine – Emergency Care and Surgery
• General Practice and Clinical Medicine
• Clinical Medicine and Elective

What is a physician associate?

Physician associates support doctors in the diagnosis and management of patients. As a physician associate, you might work in a GP surgery or be based in a hospital, but wherever you work, you'll have direct contact with patients.

You’ll be trained to perform a number of day-to- day tasks including:

• Taking medical histories
• Performing examinations
• Diagnosing illnesses
• Analysing test results
• Developing management plans

You can find further information on the role through the Faculty of Physician Associates at the Royal College of Physicians (FPARCP) or the NHS careers website.

To understand what a physician associate does on a day-to- day basis, Health Education England have produced this informative Day in the Life of a Physician Associate video.

Collaboration

This programme will be delivered through collaboration with Health Education Kent, Surrey and Sussex and engagement with Brighton and Sussex Medical School (BSMS), Canterbury and Christchurch University (CCU) and the University of Kent.

The majority of teaching, however, will be conducted by Surrey staff and local NHS clinicians. The four HEIs (including Surrey) may share facilities in areas of individual specialist expertise, although teaching will be conducted by Surrey staff.

Working with local NHS Trusts (primary and community care, acute, secondary care and mental health) will enable elements including work-based assessments and summative assessments (the clinical OSCEs).

Surrey Health Partners

The University of Surrey is part of the Surrey Health Partners Alliance, bringing together NHS Trusts in Surrey with the University to enhance learning and teaching, research and clinical practice.

The local Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs, covering GP practices) and NHS Health Trusts (covering hospitals, community care and psychiatric care) are all represented fully within Surrey Health Partners.

Career opportunities

Following successful graduation from this Diploma course, you will need to sit the National Assessment for Physician Associates, set by the Faculty of Physician Associates at the Royal College of Physicians, London.

Passing the National Assessment will allow you to be put onto the National Register for Physician Associates, so that you can practise clinically in the UK.

Career prospects

The predicted growth of the physician associate role across the NHS to fill an important resource gap indicates strong continued employment prospects for graduates. Physician associates will pursue a profession that is supported by the NHS and the Department of Health: over 30 hospitals currently employ PAs across the UK and the numbers are growing fast.

Health Education Kent, Surrey and Sussex aims to produce PAs who can work in primary as well as secondary care.

Educational aims of the programme

The overarching educational aim of the programme is to train graduates with a first degree in Biosciences, Life Sciences or Health Sciences, or suitable approved programme, to Post Graduate Diploma level, to function as a qualified physician associate (on passing the National Examination).

Physician associates will be able to:

• Deliver holistic medical care and treatment under defined levels of supervision, in acute and primary care settings in the National Health Service.
• Work effectively with patients and multi-disciplinary healthcare teams from diverse backgrounds.
• Use a patient-centred approach, and be expert communicators, ensuring patient safety at all times
• Promote health and wellbeing on an individual and population basis
• Engage in reflective practice, work within the limits of their competence and engage actively in lifelong learning and professional development

This training includes the necessary knowledge, skills and professional attitudes needed to work to the medical model, demonstrating safe medical practice, medical competence, compassion, reflective and critical thinking in diagnostic reasoning and clinical management.

Graduates will be able to assess, diagnose and manage medical problems competently, consulting with patients presenting with a variety of specified conditions on behalf of, and under supervision of a senior experienced doctor.

They will be able to understand and demonstrate the principles of safe and effective prescribing.

Graduates will be trained to a standard defined by the National Examination for Physician Associates that will enable them to work as physician associates in the National Health Service, with appropriate accreditation and regulation once these have been decided and implemented.

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Physician Associates are skilled members of the health care team who are qualified to provide a wide range of medical services in practice with a licensed physician. Training as a Physician Associate allows you to develop and direct your healthcare career in a primary care setting or almost any medical specialty. This flexibility is unique to the Physician Associate role and makes it an exciting new career choice. Physician Associate training is based on a ‘fast track’ medical school model that was developed in the U.S in 1965.

UK/EU Physician Associate students may be eligible for a bursary to cover a proportion of their fees. Find out more.

Our Postgraduate Diploma in Physician Associate Studies is delivered within the University’s Institute of Medical Sciences at the Medway campus where students have the added benefit of training in a specialist facility with qualified medical practitioners engaged in postgraduate education and research.

You will spend a significant portion of the first year in the simulation suite learning hands on skills. The simulation suite is equipped with mock wards as well as a surgical suite with anesthesia and laparoscopic equipment. Highly sophisticated human simulation models will be used in the teaching of hands on skills to prepare you for your second year clinical based modules.

Visit the website: https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/study-here/courses/postgraduate/physician-associate-studies.aspx

Course detail

The Physician Associate curriculum begins with a year of rigorous medical science, pharmacology and clinical reasoning taught by a qualified team of specialist physicians and Physicians Associates. One day per week in the first year is spent in a general practice clinical setting. The second year is comprised of six specialist clinical placements and intensive classroom teaching in advanced skills and concepts.

Upon successful completion of the Postgraduate diploma in Physician Associate Studies, you are eligible to take the National Exam for Physician Associates and be part of the Physician Associate Managed Voluntary Registry (PAMVR) which allows you to be employed by the NHS. The profession is currently working towards regulation in the UK and is overseen by the Royal College of Physicians Physician Associate Faculty.

All modules are taught using a combination of teaching methods, including lectures, problem based learning, short case review and hand on/skills practice.

Lecture, practice based learning, case review and skills application are incorporated in each module to ensure students assimilate clinical knowledge and skills in all areas.

Suitability

The course is aimed at people interested in pursuing a healthcare career in a primary care setting or almost any medical specialty.

It is designed for people with a strong science background. Please see more details under 'Further entry requirements'.

Content

Year one

Students complete all modules
• Clinical Medicine (1) (20 credits)
• Clinical Medicine (2) (20 credits)
• Clinical Medicine (3) (20 credits)
• Clinical Skills and Professional Development (20 credits)

If you are unsuccessful in completing all modules in Year One you will be awarded a Postgraduate Certificate in Medical Studies (providing that you successfully complete 3 out of 4 modules).

Year two

Students complete all modules
• Advanced Clinical Medicine (20 credits)
• Advanced Clinical Skills and Professional Development (20 credits)

Total = 120 credits

What can I do next?

Physician Associates in the UK work in a wide variety of healthcare settings which include:
• GP surgeries
• Accident and Emergency departments
• Inpatient medical and surgical wards
• Trauma and Orthopaedics
• Mental Health
• Paediatrics
• Hospital Operating Theatres

How to apply

For information on how to apply, please follow this link: https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/study-here/how-to-apply/how-to-apply.aspx

Funding

-Masters Loans-

From 2016/17 government loans of up to £10,000 are available for postgraduate Masters study. The loans will be paid directly to students by the Student Loans Company and will be subject to both personal and course eligibility criteria.

For more information available here: https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/study-here/funding-your-degree/funding-your-postgraduate-degree.aspx

-2017/18 Entry Financial Support-

Information on alternative funding sources is available here: https://www.canterbury.ac.uk/study-here/funding-your-degree/2017-18-entry-financial-support.aspx

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Physician Associates are healthcare professionals that support doctors in diagnosing and managing patient treatment. The PG Dip in Physician Associate Studies in Swansea is one of the first courses of its kind in Wales. Developed as a collaborative venture between Swansea University Medical School and the College of Human and Health Science this integrated two year course will teach students the knowledge and clinical skills they require to pass the National Certification Examination and start work as a Physician Associate.

Key Features of the Physician Associate Studies Programme

Students will spend the majority of Year 1 of the Physician Associate Studies course undertaking university based theory and practical sessions with some early clinical exposure to the working environment . Teaching will be divided into four week blocks according to body systems and Anatomy and Clinical Skills teaching will be integrated into this structure. Teaching will be case based and will involve a combination of lectures, seminars, project work and small group learning.

Year 2 of the Physician Associate Studies course is largely spent on clinical placements, with students applying their learning in the care of real patients under the supervision of a clinically qualified mentor. Students will have to work towards an agreed level of competence at a range of clinical skills and must be assessed as safe and competent in those skills. The “Competence and Curriculum Framework for the Physician Assistant (2012)” prescribes, to a large extent, the range of clinical environments in which students will spend their placements.

Physician Associate Studies students will be provided with the opportunities to:

1. seek out and recognise the clinical applications of their theoretical learning
2. apply learning within the practice setting
3. reflect on practice to identify their individual learning needs
4. develop clinical reasoning skills
5. develop a range of practical skills
6. recognise, in practice, those principles, assumptions, beliefs and theories which shape that practice
7. work effectively with patients and where appropriate with carers
8. work within a clear understanding of the limitations of their knowledge and skills

The modular structure for Year 1 comprises two 40 credit modules delivered by Swansea University Medical School ( SUMS) and three modules delivered by the College of Human and Health Science (CHHS) with a combined value of 40 credits. The knowledge based module (Foundations in Clinical Medicine for Physician Associates) will be assessed by two summative Progress Tests. The “Physician Associate Clinical Skills” module will be assessed by Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE's). The CHHS modules are “An introduction to Sociology and Psychology for Physician Associates” ( 10 credits), “An introduction to Health Care Law and Ethics for Physician Associates” ( 10 credits) and “An introduction to Research, Evidence based practice and Reflection for Physician Associates” ( 20 credits) The CHHS modules will be assessed by a combination of essays, a research presentation and a reflective portfolio.

The modular structure for Year 2 contains two 40 credit modules delivered by SUMS. The “Foundations in Clinical Medicine” module will be assessed by two summative Progress Tests. The “Clinical Skills” module will be assessed by two OSCE's as well as workplace based assessments (Mini-CEX) and satisfactory completion of the learning log. The CHHS modules are” Public Health and Epidemiology for Physician Associates” ( 10 credits), “Learning,Teaching and Assessing for Physician Associates” (10 credits) and “Critical reflection for Physician Associates” (20 credits) The CHHS modules will be assessed by a combination of an essay, a presentation, a written narrative and completion of a reflective portfolio.

The Physician Associate Studies course is designed so that all examinations and assessments, including supplementaries, will be concluded by the end of August allowing students to be ready to sit the National Certification Examination for Physician Associates in early September.

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The 2-year PG Diploma program uses a multi-disciplinary, research-informed approach to teach clinical and basic science related to the human systems (cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, female reproductive, renal and genitourinary, the eyes, and skin) and diagnostics & therapeutics.

The scientific background is taught in the context of clinical placements in Community Medicine, General Hospital Medicine, Front Door Medicine, Mental Health, General Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Paediatrics.

Successful completion of the 2 year PG Diploma enables graduates to take the national certification exam, which is mandatory to register and work as a Physician Associate.

Students benefit from a strong exposure to clinicians and scientists with active research in medically related subjects.

Course Structure

The program is delivered by the Physician Associate Faculty that brings together clinicians and other experts from across the disciplines of primary and secondary medical care. The course content reflects the curriculum and learning requirements for the Physician Associate framework (PA CC 2012).

The Physician Associate programme at Bangor includes an integrated placement programme of work-based learning that will provide progressive experiential learning in a range of clinical settings to allow students to attain the standards of knowledge and understanding in clinical practice, including regulatory structures, professionalism and clinical competences expected of a Physician Associate. Placements will be grouped according to the following clinical subject headings and minimum periods:

• Community Medicine (180h)
• General Hospital Medicine (350 h)
• Front Door Medicine (180 h)
• Mental Health (90 h)
• General Surgery (90h)
• Obstetrics & Gynaecology (90 h)
• Paediatrics (acute setting) (90h) 

During the course you will learn how to recognise and manage common and complex medical conditions as part of multi-professional team, to make independent and informed judgements on clinical problems and be trained to integrate knowledge and clinical practice. As a Physician Associate graduate you’ll be able to demonstrate outstanding interpersonal and professional skills when working with patients, carers and clinical multi-disciplinary teams in a multicultural environment. You will also have a comprehensive understating of I.T., record keeping and communication using a diverse range of media in evidence based practice and understand the importance of health promotion, disease prevention and inequalities in society and local communities.

The programme aims to give students a comprehensive knowledge of the concepts, principles and technologies used in clinical practice in the following areas:

• Cardiovascular system
• Respiratory system
• Gastrointestinal system
• Musculoskeletal system
• Eyes
• Female reproductive system
• Renal and genitourinary system
• Skin
• Diagnostics and therapeutics.
• Neurology

On successful completion of the course, you’ll have gained the key knowledge related to practice as a physician associate, including major concepts related to the principles and theories associated with human anatomy and physiology, cell biology, body/system-drug actions and interactions, mechanisms underlying human pathological conditions and the basis of the clinical and technological methods used to diagnose and monitor these conditions. You be able to demonstrate the qualities and transferable skills necessary for employment in the medical domain including history taking and consultation skills, and physical examinations tailored to the needs of the patient and the demands of the clinical situation. You’ll also be able to demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of the needs of patients/clients, and decision-making in complex and unpredictable contexts.

Teaching, Learning and Assessment

Teaching occurs via lectures, clinical placements, practical classes and group work including case centred discussions often delivered by academic clinicians who hold joint University and Health board contracts. Students benefit from a high number of contact hours that includes utilisation of our state-of-the art teaching laboratories and simulation suite at the hospital. Academic assessment includes placement reports, observed clinical skills, MCQ and written exams.

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Be part of a new and exciting role in healthcare in the UK, learning advanced assessment, diagnostic and clinical skills for a diverse group of patients in range of clinical settings.

What is the Physician Associate?

The Physician Associate is a new role in the UK but is well established in North America. Physician Associates are not doctors, but adopt the medical model in the assessment and management of patient. They work in a team context with delegated autonomy and medical oversight.

Physician Associates are currently working in the UK in a variety of clinical settings such as:

• medicine for the elderly
• emergency departments
• mental health services
• trauma and orthopaedic surgery
• general practice
• medical and surgical assessment units
• clinical decision units

Overview

The programme is offered once per year commencing in September, with the first intake in September 2014 (subject to validation). This is a highly intensive course delivered over 27 months full time.
Year 1 is university based with a minimum of 1,610 hours of student effort. Year 2 is based in practice undertaking a variety of placements amounting to 1,610 hours. Followed by 12 weeks completing the dissertation.
All components of the programme are mandatory and a total of 180 level 7 credits being required to gain the award of MSc Physician Associate.

Employability

The Physician Associate is a relatively new role in the UK, but UK PA graduates are practising in a diverse range of clinical settings in many parts of the UK and in clinical areas including, but not limited to: general practice, urgent care, emergency care, medical specialities and surgical specialities. The difficulties in recruiting doctors in acute and primary care to meet emergency and urgent care needs makes the Physician Associate a highly sought after clinical professional in the health care sector. Local intelligence suggests that current employment opportunities outstrip the supply of Physician Associate graduates seeking these roles.

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The MSc in Physician Associate Studies offers you the opportunity to train as a Physician Associate, a new, rapidly-evolving role within the NHS that opens up a diverse range of health-based work opportunities.

A Physician Associate (PA) is defined as someone who is: a new healthcare professional who, while not a doctor, works to the medical model, with the attitudes, skills and knowledge base to deliver holistic care and treatment within the general medical and/or general practice team under defined levels of supervision. The role is therefore designed to supplement the medical workforce, thereby improving patient access.

As a PA, you will work under a supervising doctor or surgeon, and be equipped to provide holistic care and treatment within the medical model. This a versatile role, that can cover the primary care setting such as general practice or the acute settings.

Course detail

This two-year course is intensive and clinically focused, and involves many aspects of an undergraduate or postgraduate medical degree, focusing on general adult medicine, rather than speciality care. You will learn to perform a number of roles, including taking medical histories, performing examinations, diagnosing illnesses, analysing test results and developing management plans.

Being based within UWE's specialist campus environment means you will get to study as part of a wider healthcare community and have access to state-of-the-art simulation facilities, where you can practise your skills in a realistic yet controlled medical environment.

The course also includes extensive placement opportunities, with the chance to gain experience across a range of acute and primary care settings.

Modules

• Clinical Sciences (30 credits)
• Applied Pharmacology (15 credits)
• Foundations in Clinical Medicine 1 (15 credits)
• Foundations in Clinical Medicine 2 (30 credits)
• Public Health and Health Promotion for Physician Associates (15 credits)
• Evidencing Contemporary Physician Associate Practice (15 credits)
• Health and Social Care Research: Methods and Methodolgy (15 credits)
• Dissertation (45 credits)

Format

This is a clinically focused course, delivered through a variety of taught lectures, small group sessions, problem-based learning, practical clinical skills, and simulated learning, with an underpinning clinical practice element that runs throughout the two years in both primary and secondary care.

The course will be led by an experienced Physician Associate and a team of healthcare lecturers and GPs. This ensures the strong 'real world' focus of this course and means you can expect the highest quality of teaching and learning.

Assessment

We will make use of a range of types of assessment on the course, including structured clinical exams, essays based on problem-based learning, presentations and a clinical portfolio of evidence.

Careers / Further study

On successful completion of the course, you will need to pass an additional national professional exam, to practise as a Physician Associate.

Healthcare courses at UWE have a very strong record of producing students who are quickly successful in gaining relevant work. Undertaking placements will mean you will have plenty of links into potential sources of local work when you finish.

How to apply

Information on applications can be found at the following link: http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/study/applyingtouwebristol/postgraduateapplications.aspx

Funding

- New Postgraduate Master's loans for 2016/17 academic year –

The government are introducing a master’s loan scheme, whereby master’s students under 60 can access a loan of up to £10,000 as a contribution towards the cost of their study. This is part of the government’s long-term commitment to enhance support for postgraduate study.

Scholarships and other sources of funding are also available.

More information can be found here: http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/students/feesandfunding/fundingandscholarships/postgraduatefunding.aspx

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Our course will prepare you for the National Physician Associate entrance exam. Successful completion of the exam allows you to work as a physician associate within the NHS. You will gain skills in history taking, physical examination and diagnosis. You will also study clinical theory and undertake clinical placements.

This course will equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to qualify as a physician associate. Physician associates provide patient care within the National Health Service (NHS). They work under the supervision of doctors and health care professionals. The course will suit graduates of a bioscience discipline.

You will learn how to work to the medical model, with the attitudes, skills and knowledge base needed to deliver holistic care and treatment. You will develop your understanding of clinical practice through a combination of:
-Case based self-directed learning
-Clinical skills laboratory teaching
-Hands on experience in clinical settings

Additionally, you will develop core knowledge in preparation for the clinical workplace. This will include appropriate knowledge of:
-Anatomy
-Biochemistry
-Physiology
-Pharmacology
-Immunology
-Microbiology
-Neurology

On completion of the course you will be able to take the national physician associate qualifying exam. Satisfactory performance allows you to begin work as a physician associate within the NHS. The exam is overseen by the Faculty of Physician Associates within the Royal College of Physicians.

The course draws on Newcastle University’s considerable excellence in medical training. It was developed in association with Health Education North East.

Delivery

Year one runs over 46 weeks and includes:
-Six week training in clinical, communication and diagnostic skills using mannequin-based and role play simulations
-A 27 week team-based learning course introducing core clinical knowledge through clinical case studies
-One day a week in a primary care setting developing history taking skills
-A six week apprenticeship in a hospital based setting to introduce the role of the physician associate

Year two comprises rotations in the following areas followed by a two week assessment period:
-Eight weeks of emergency medicine
-Three weeks of mental health
-Six weeks of community medicine/primary care
-Three weeks of obstetrics and gynaecology
-Three weeks of paediatrics
-Eight weeks of general medicine
-Three weeks of general surgery

You will then undertake a ten week senior apprenticeship. Trainees will work as physician associates under clinical supervision.

Placements

Alongside learning basic clinical theory you will undertake clinical placements. You will spend at least 1600 hours in clinical placements within NHS trusts and primary care providers in the North East.

Facilities

Students benefit from a:
-Clinical skills laboratory for acquisition of clinical/procedural skills in a safe, monitored environment
-Simulation laboratory to practice emergency care scenarios on our simulation mannequins
-Unique virtual learning environment for access to high-quality online learning resources and pre-recorded lecture material

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The University of Birmingham runs the Physician Associate Masters programme as a top-up programme designed for students who have already graduated with a Postgraduate Diploma in Physician Assistant/Associate Studies from a UK or Irish university. This a distance learning programme so you can work professionally while studying for your Masters.

You will complete a research methods module (unless you have relevant previous research experience, in which you may be exempted) and then identify a research project in liaison with a Birmingham academic, probably from the core Physician Associate faculty.

Research Methods Module:

This distance learning module covers the techniques needed to critically appraise published research, and carry out a piece of original research. Topics include the scientific method applied to human services, literature search techniques, research design, sampling, the organisation of a research project, research ethics, measurement techniques, the analysis of qualitative and quantitative data, the presentation of results, and dissemination.


Dissertation:

This module provides students with an opportunity to use the professional understanding they have developed through practice and through the taught component of the Physician Associate Programme as a foundation for planning and undertaking a major piece of scholarly work (usually but not exclusively a piece of research). The student is expected to demonstrate novel thinking in an area relevant to Physician Associate practice or to the development of the Physician Associate profession. Although academic supervision will be provided, the main impetus for the work and the critical thinking with regard to subject, approach and presentation must come from the student.

About the College of Medical and Dental Sciences

The College of Medical and Dental Sciences is a major international centre for research and education, make huge strides in finding solutions to major health problems including ageing, cancer, cardiovascular, dental, endocrine, inflammatory diseases, infection (including antibiotic resistance), rare diseases and trauma.
We tackle global healthcare problems through excellence in basic and clinical science, and improve human health by delivering tangible real-life benefits in the fight against acute and chronic disease.
Situated in the largest healthcare region in the country, with access to one of the largest and most diverse populations in Europe, we are positioned to address major global issues and diseases affecting today’s society through our eight specialist research institutes.
With over 1,000 academic staff and around £60 million of new research funding per year, the College of Medical and Dental Sciences is dedicated to performing world-leading research.
We care about our research and teaching and are committed to developing outstanding scientists and healthcare professionals of the future. We offer our postgraduate community a unique learning experience taught by academics who lead the way in research in their field.

Funding and Scholarships

There are many ways to finance your postgraduate study at the University of Birmingham. To see what funding and scholarships are available, please visit: http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/funding

Open Days

Explore postgraduate study at Birmingham at our on-campus open days.
Register to attend at: http://www.birmingham.ac.uk/postgraduate/visit

Virtual Open Days

If you can’t make it to one of our on-campus open days, our virtual open days run regularly throughout the year. For more information, please visit: http://www.pg.bham.ac.uk

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The UCLan PGDip in Physician Associate Studies provides an exciting opportunity for graduates to become healthcare professionals and receive a salary whilst training.

Physician Associates provide care to patients under the supervision of a Consultant or General Practitioner. Their role includes interviewing and examining patients, ordering tests and making decisions about patient management.

Our course will provide you with a foundation of scientific and clinical skills, and the opportunity to build on and use these through a variety of clinical placements in Lancashire and/or Cumbria.

Our programme makes use of case based learning, clinical and communication skills role play and focussed anatomy/physiology/pathophysiology teaching. All of our course content is in line with the requirements of the Physician Associate Competence and Curriculum framework (2012) laid out by the Royal College of Physicians Faculty of Physician Associates.

Outside of the classroom environment, the provision of clinical placements includes a full spectrum of opportunities: urban & rural, specialised hospital & general practice; single-handed or multi-disciplinary. Teamwork is essential for every PA and these placements will enable working with a variety of groups whilst under the supervision of medical colleagues. The geographical location of UCLan is ideal to enable this amazing combination of clinical opportunities, of which we are very proud.

DBS CHECKS

This course will involve access to children and/or vulnerable adults. You will be required to obtain a satisfactory Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service clearance (formerly termed CRB) and we will guide you through this process.

INDUSTRY LINKS

This course is provided in partnership with Health Education England North West (HEENW) as part of the North West Physician Associate Pilot programme.

LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AND ASSESSMENT

You will be taught using our state-of-the-art facilities within the School of Medicine. The University’s campus-based clinical skills laboratories have a vast range of equipment - including a number of high fidelity clinical human simulators - to help develop clinical skills in realistic hospital, home and GP surgery environments.

A comprehensive understanding of human anatomy is enhanced with our Human Anatomy Resource and Learning Centres (HARLCs) which provide a focal point for students to engage in learning about the human body. You will also have access to our Anatomage table; similar to a body sized touch screen computer. This allows for virtual sectioning of the human body, which is particularly useful when considering medical imaging.

Knowledge and understanding of the full range of applied biological sciences is taught through a range of lectures and practical activities by our experts in a range of disciplines within the medical science field.

Here at UCLan your learning will be enriched by our patient volunteer group who are involved in clinical and communication skills training.

50% of the course will be spent on clinical placements with our NHS clinical education partners across Lancashire and/or Cumbria. This will include rotations in General Practice and a variety of hospital specialties. All students will gain experience in the care of both adults and children.

The course is taught by a variety of clinical and academic staff so that students benefit from a wide range of medical knowledge and expertise.

Assessment is by a variety of methods including written assignments, practical and theoretical examinations and workplace based assessments. The students are expected to keep an E-portfolio to evidence their progression throughout their clinical placements.

On completion of the course, students will be well prepared to take the National Exam and successful completion of this will allow them to refer to themselves as a physician associate and apply to join the profession’s managed voluntary register.

You must be prepared to travel to clinical placement sites throughout Lancashire and Cumbria. This survival guide will be useful.

OPPORTUNITIES

There is currently around 100% employment of UK graduates of Physician Associate programs.

Upon completion of the National Exam, Physician Associates have a wide range of choice of careers in both primary and secondary care.

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On the UK’s longest running Physician Associate course you will learn how to take medical histories, perform physical examinations, request and analyse test results, diagnose illnesses, develop treatment and management plans. It is a challenging but incredibly rewarding with the course boasting 100% pass rates and a 100% employment record upon graduation.

St George’s is the only university to share its campus with one of the largest NHS teaching hospitals, making it the ideal place to study Physician Associate Studies MSc. With unrivalled access to clinical resources and working professionals, the course will fully equip you with all the skills and knowledge required to support doctors in the diagnosis and management of patients.

Highlights

-Shared campus with one of the largest teaching hospitals in the UK.
-Clinical placements from year one.
-Graduates likely to become future leaders in the profession.
-Award winning teaching team.

Modules

The first year is dedicated to ensuring all students have a good grounding in the sciences underpinning health care. You will spend three days a week on campus and one day on clinical placements, which will be organised in GP practices.

In the second year, you will be on campus one day every three weeks as the emphasis shifts towards clinical work and placements with 40 weeks being spent in a hospital and six weeks being spent on a GP placement.

The modules for this course are integrated; your learning throughout one module will significantly inform and influence your learning in another module. The course consists of seven modules totalling 180 credits at level seven:

Research Methods 15 credits
Foundations of Clinical Medicine 45 credits
Applied Pharmacology 15 credits
Evidence-based Practice in Health Care 15 credits
Applied Pharmacology 15 credits
Personal and Professional Development for Physician Associates 30 credits
Physician Associate Applied Clinical Knowledge and Skills 30 credits
Service Improvement Masters Project 30 credits

Careers

By the end of the course Candidates should be able to:

>safely practice in a wide variety of clinical settings within your scope of practice and under agreed supervision
> be an expert communicator who is empathic in a manner appropriate to a healthcare profession
> critically examine health inequalities and the challenges of working in a multicultural environment
> be aware of the limits of your competence and committed to acting within these limits
> critically evaluate the context of multi professional working in a team environment
> be adept in the use of communication and information technology skills for healthcare
> critically appraise the evidence underpinning their practice
> be a capable and motivated lifelong learner who is continually engaged in active professional development
> understand the need to maintain and promote health, as well as to cure or palliate disease, and be aware of your obligations to the wider community, as well as to individuals
> integrate theoretical and clinical learning

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About the course:
-Essential programme for an exciting new career as a healthcare professional
-Training given in the medical model
-Suitable for life science graduates or those with significant healthcare experience
-Curriculum content delivered in close partnership with practising clinicians
-Strong emphasis on workplace-based learning in NHS Primary and Secondary Care environments

WHAT YOU WILL STUDY

Year 1
There are two compulsory modules which cover all aspects of the PA competence and curriculum framework.
-Physician associate pre-clinical module
-Physician associate clinical module

Year 2
Your second year will comprise skills reinforcement and a wide variety of different placements broadening your skills and knowledge to take on this important and challenging role in the NHS.

EMPLOYABILITY

A Physician Associate (PA) is a healthcare professional trained in the medical model who works as a member of a medical team under the supervision of a doctor or surgeon in a wide variety of workplaces (including GP practices, community health services and all types of hospital care). PAs support doctors in the diagnosis and management of patients and are trained to perform a number of roles including:
-Taking medical histories
-Performing examinations
-Diagnosing illnesses
-Analysing test results
-Developing management plans

The PA role is flexible and is being developed across the NHS to meet major staffing strategies. A lack of trained PAs in the UK means that career prospects for graduates are excellent. The predicted growth of the PA role across the NHS to fill an important resource gap indicates strong continued employment prospects for graduates.

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A Physician Associate (PA) is defined as someone who is a new healthcare professional who, while not a doctor, works to the medical model, with the attitudes, skills and knowledge base to deliver holistic care and treatment within the general medical and/or general practice team under defined levels of supervision.

While Physician Associates are not meant to replace doctors, they are urgently needed to meet the increasing demand of a growing and ageing population combined with reductions in the medical workforce especially in the more rural areas of Wales. Working within teams, they would enhance patient care both in the community and hospital setting in a more efficient and relatively cost-effective manner. Graduates from this course will have a broad and relevant set of transferable skills with a focus on medical history taking, clinical examination, analysis of test results, clinical reasoning and diagnosis, and the development of evidence based patient management plans.

In order to be eligible to sit the national Physician Associate examination, successful completion of 2 year PG Diploma in Physician Associate Studies is required. Welsh Government funding is available to cover fees and to provide some support for cost of living.

“This is a new program for North Wales and one of several commencing across the UK. The program will utilise the best teachers in medical science and clinical practice in North Wales that have a track record of teaching, research and clinical excellence in their specialist fields.” Professor Dean Williams, Head of School of Medical Sciences at Bangor University and Consultant Vascular Surgeon at Ysbyty Gwynedd Hospital, one of the three main District General Hospitals within the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, is Program Director and will have a significant role in delivering key aspects of the course.

Course content is for guidance purposes only and may be subject to change.

Entry Requirements:
Candidates should be of the required academic standard and be able to satisfy one of the following conditions:

- have been awarded an initial degree (2.1 or higher) by a recognised Higher Education Institution in medically-related life science subjects (see widening access section if you are interested but do not have a degree in these areas). Examples include: Medical Sciences; Biomedical Sciences or
- have a 2:2 in a life science degree with a higher degree in a relevant subject e.g. MSc Clinical Sciences
- be in possession of a non-graduate qualification that the University has deemed to be of a satisfactory standard for the purpose of postgraduate admission.
- International students must also have IELTS of 7.0 or above, with no individual score lower than 6.5.

Students will be interviewed prior to acceptance.

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At a time of significant change in the NHS, Physician Associates (PAs) are playing an increasingly valuable role supporting doctors in the diagnosis and management of patients. The PA is a relatively new role in the NHS, working alongside doctors in hospitals and GP surgeries, supporting the diagnosis and management of patients.

This innovative course provides students with the knowledge, professional and clinical skills to work as a PA. The integrated curriculum borrows from the successful undergraduate course at BSMS with augmentation through intensive discussion of clinical cases in small groups, and includes significant time in local clinical placements and simulation facilities.

KEY AREAS OF STUDY

• Integrated curriculum with longitudinal clinical placements in primary care throughout Year 1
• Bespoke anatomy delivered using e-learning packages for prosection and course-based learning
• Access to learning materials from the undergraduate medical course
• Simulated-based learning throughout the curriculum
• Clinical reasoning strategies for diagnosis in case-based learning
• Rotational attachments in local NHS trusts in clinical specialities throughout Year 2

COURSE STRUCTURE

Learning outcomes from the modules listed below are integrated so that students will learn about clinical medicine on a theoretical basis, practice relevant clinical skills in the classroom, followed by supervised practice on real patients in clinical attachments.

In order to achieve accredited PA status, students will be required to pass our examination, as well as the Physician Associate National Examinations. These take place in January, March and September each year.

Year One:

MDM151 Biomedical and Clinical Science for PA (30 credits)
MDM152 Case-based learning for PA (Foundation) (45 credits)
MDM153 Clinical Practice for PA (Foundation) (45 credits)

Year Two:

MDM154 Case-based learning for PA (45 credits)
MDM155 Clinical Practice for PA (Senior) (60 credits)
MDM156 Preparation for Practice (15 credits)

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

Qualification with the PG Diploma in Physician Associate Studies and successful completion of the national examination will allow alumnae to work in a variety of healthcare settings including general medicine, paediatrics, and in community settings. Local trusts have already developed workforce plans for PA posts, including East Surrey Hospital, where PAs are well established.

Following graduation from the PA course, and subsequent completion of the Physician Associate National Examinations, PAs can expect starting salaries of Agenda for Change Band 7. Progression thereafter will be dependent on competency, attributes and opportunities to progress to higher pay scales.

As the PA role has been identified as a key emergent profession within the NHS, it is envisaged a large number of job vacancies will become available locally and nationally in the coming years.

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You will learn how to consult effectively with patients, take medical histories, conduct physical examinations, request and interpret tests, diagnose illnesses and injuries, develop treatment and management plans, and counsel on preventative healthcare.

This two-year programme includes:
-Regular clinical placements
-Teaching by healthcare professionals
-Innovative teaching methods using team-based and problem-based learning
-Regular use of simulation using manikins and simulated patients to develop core competencies

The programme equips students with the skills required for a career area that is in great demand in a changing NHS. The physician associate is a relatively new healthcare role in the UK, developed to meet the demand on front line NHS services and an associated shortage of doctors. Working under the supervision of a doctor, a physician associate works in a clinical setting consulting with patients in person and by telephone.

You will perform:
-Taking medical histories
-Performing examinations
-Diagnosing illnesses
-Analysing test results
-Counsel on preventive health care

This programme is an intense 90-week programme taught over two years to achieve a PGDip.

Learning and teaching includes 1600 hours of clinical rotations in Hospitals and Community General Medical Practices. There is a strong public health theme to the programme, with students committed to promoting health and wellbeing in order to prevent illness. There is also a technological theme to the programme with students developing skills in digital health and health informatics.

The programme is designed for clinicians, graduate scientists and other medical professionals working in a clinical, industrial or academic research environment. It is of interest to those with a first degree in other Health and Life Science subjects such as Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmacy, Medical Sciences, Nursing, Osteopathy and Occupational Therapy, who are interested in a career related to Medicine.

Candidates must pass the national exam before they can practice as a Physician Associate.

Why Bradford?

We have continued to pioneer high-quality new developments in clinical and biomedical sciences education, and are recognised both nationally and internationally for the excellence of our courses and graduates. Our students will benefit from wide ranging; transdisciplinary teaching experiences, and have access to a variety of cutting-edge equipment and facilities.

The programme offers considerable collaborative learning experiences (e.g. through team-based learning). You will work in small teams and will learn from the experiences of others.

This programme is one of a limited number of dedicated Physician Associate Courses in the UK, this bespoke course has been built specifically to meet the needs of this emerging healthcare professional, and developed in consultation with local doctors in hospital and general practice.

Modules

The programme is intensive. To achieve the qualification required to enter this profession, which is at Postgraduate Diploma (PGDip) level, your programme is delivered over two years and you are expected to attend full time for 45 weeks of each year with approximately 50% of this time spent on clinical placement in local hospitals and GP practices.

Students with a PGDip Physician Associate Studies are eligible to sit the national examination to qualify as a physician associate; this programme prepares you to pass that examination.

You can also achieve a higher award of a Master's in Science (MSc) Physician Associate Studies. This would typically be over an additional 12 month period, where you would undertake a clinical, research-focused dissertation based on their practice as a qualified Physician Associate.

Modules
-Communication and Clinical Skills for Physician Associates
-Patients and their medicines
-Integrated Medical Sciences and Professional Practice

Learning activities and assessment

This is a fully integrated course, by this we mean that our teaching of the biomedical, clinical and pharmacological sciences is always framed around the application to the clinical practice of working as a physician associate. You will be taught by a range of healthcare professionals both in the classroom and on clinical practice, including doctors, nurses, and pharmacists, and of course on clinical placements there are even further opportunities to work in an interprofessional environment. There are also numerous opportunities to work with patients, service users and carers who are involved in classroom teaching sessions.

The programme includes a variety of teaching, learning and assessment methods. It is learner-centred and uses enquiry-based learning, team based learning and problem based learning. Throughout the course we focus on outcomes (what you will be doing in future roles), using case-based and patient centred learning tasks and incorporating clinical placements from the beginning. We are focused on local healthcare needs, and have integrated public health and digital health technologies themes running throughout the course.

Career support and prospects

The University is committed to helping students develop and enhance employability and this is an integral part of many programmes. Specialist support is available throughout the course from Career and Employability Services including help to find part-time work while studying, placements, vacation work and graduate vacancies. Students are encouraged to access this support at an early stage and to use the extensive resources on the Careers website.

Discussing options with specialist advisers helps to clarify plans through exploring options and refining skills of job-hunting. In most of our programmes there is direct input by Career Development Advisers into the curriculum or through specially arranged workshops.

Physician Associates are a new healthcare workforce in the UK and much needed in a changing NHS. Physician Associates can be found working in GP surgeries, inpatient wards and Emergency Departments. An annual census is carried out by the Faculty of Physician Associates and provides a useful overview of the wide ranging roles currently undertaking.

The number of Physician Associates is likely to grow as the NHS seeks solutions to the workload pressures on A&E Departments and GP Surgeries. In the Yorkshire region, we expect career prospects for Physician Associates to be good as the region is currently experiencing reduced GP and speciality trainee recruitment. The University of Bradford is working with our placement providers to plan for future employment prospects for our students.

Typically, upon qualification Physician Associates can expect a starting salary at Band 6 or 7 in the NHS Agenda for Change pay rates.

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