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Perceived efficacy and utility of postgraduate physician assistant training programs
Kristen K Will1, Jennifer Williams, Ginny Hilton
1Kristen K. Will is director of executive education and a clinical assistant professor in the College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz. Jennifer Williams practices in the Division of Hospital Internal Medicine at the Mayo Clinic Arizona in Phoenix. Ginny Hilton is in the Norwalk-Yale PA surgical residency program at Norwalk (Conn.) Hospital. Laurie Wilson is a trauma and critical care advanced practitioner fellow at St. Luke's University Hospital in Bethlehem, Pa. Holly Geyer practices in the Division of Hospital Internal Medicine at the Mayo Clinic Arizona. The authors have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.
Objective:
The purpose of this study was to explore graduates' perceptions of the efficacy and perceived utility of postgraduate physician assistant (PA) programs.
Methods:
Using an online tool, a survey was sent to postgraduate PA program graduates that contained demographic questions and descriptive questions examining the perceived utility of completing a postgraduate PA program.
Results:
Surveys were e-mailed to 149 graduates of postgraduate PA programs; 113 responded (75% response rate). After completing postgraduate training, 97% of graduates felt their training made them more competitive in the job market; 74% believed time from orientation to full productivity was reduced; and 95% would recommend completion of a postgraduate training program.
Conclusions:
Completion of a postgraduate PA program is an alternative to on-the-job training. Graduates perceived that the benefits from these programs include increased competitiveness in the job market, decreased onboarding time, and overall enhancement of their professional careers.
