MEDEX Master Of Clinical Health Services: Masters Completion Program Overview

The MEDEX Northwest Division of Physician Assistant Studies in partnership with University of Washington Educational Outreach offers a Masters Completion, Master of Clinical Health Services (EMCHS), degree program for physician assistants. The first cohort will be accepted into the program for a summer quarter 2010 start. This five-consecutive-quarter master’s degree offers a blended curriculum, which consists of mostly online and distance learning. The exceptions are a two week intensive at the beginning of the first quarter and one week at the end of the program, when students will be required to be on the UW Seattle campus.

The EMCHS degree program aims to prepare currently practicing physician assistants to assume leadership roles through the development of skills and tools needed to navigate the rapidly changing world of healthcare. In addition to course content in research, leadership, and health policy, the extended degree will offer graduates clinical experience in focused areas such as rural healthcare, administration, education or, global health, helping students to meet their personal, professional and practice goals.

Abbreviations: OL = online, IC = in class

Frequently Asked Questions about the EMCHS

Q. When will I need to be on campus in Seattle?
A. The class begining in Summer 2010 will be on campus from Monday June 21st through Thursday July 1st, 2010.

Q. When will this program begin?
A. The Extended Master of Clinical Health Services degree program will accept the first class to begin summer quarter 2010.

Q. How many students will be accepted in 2010?
A. MEDEX will enroll up to 30 students for the 2010-2011 program with an increased target enrollment of 40 students for 2011 and subsequent years’ programs.

Q. What will the cost be for this degree?
A. Tuition for the five-quarter program will cost an estimated $20,000, payable in equal quarterly tuition payments. Please see the EMCHS Expenses page for more information.

Q.Will students be eligible for financial aid?
A. Yes, the EMCHS Program has been approved for student financial aid. Please see the EMCHS Expenses page for more information.

Q. Can I remain employed while pursuing the EMCHS?
A. Yes, you can continue working. Although you will take time off for the two initial weeks and then the final week for your on-campus activities, you can complete the program while maintaining your current employment. The clinical residency coursework has a flexible design that allows you to use some of your usual clinical encounters toward satisfying course requirements.

Q. Do I have to be currently employed?
A. No, you do not have to be currently employed, and you do not need to be currently employed as a PA. You may choose to concentrate your efforts on this program while considering your next career move. You will need to be able to identify appropriate sites for your clinical residency coursework, but this is not contingent on current employment as a practicing PA.

Q. Who should apply to the program? New PAs? Highly experienced PAs?
A. Both! We expect to have a rich diversity in each class that combines PAs who may be relatively new in their careers with PAs bringing a wealth of experience... and everything in between.

Q. Are the required clinical residencies full-time or part-time? Can I use my current employment setting? Who arranges them?
A. The residencies are designed with a flexible structure that allows students to make arrangements in a location and setting that relates closely to their individual needs and educational goals. All residency options require that you log at least 100 hours per quarter (for three quarters) in clinical practice. One option is to use your current employment setting as your home base. In this case you would work on a focused project (e.g., health promotion or quality issues) in your clinical setting each quarter. Another option is to explore a new specialty or service. If you were to arrange this outside your current employment, you would need to determine what fits best with your work schedule. The requirement could be met by setting aside certain days throughout the quarter, or concentrating all of your hours for the quarter into two to three full-time weeks. The syllabus for residencies will provide details for the various options. In all cases, students will make formal proposals for their residency assignment model, and submit these for faculty approval before the quarter begins. Students will need to arrange their own liability coverage (available through the AAPA). Residencies are graded on a pass/fail basis.

Q. What is a “blended curriculum” and how does it work?
A: As a physician assistant, you understand that balancing work, family and life commitments can be a challenge. The EMCHS uses a blended curriculum, a combination of mostly online learning and limited on-site meetings. Students are able to obtain a world-class education from MEDEX Northwest at the University of Washington while continuing to work in their home communities.

• Across the program, students build a broad, professional network that starts with classmates, instructors and guest speakers in both your on-site and in online courses.
• Students have more freedom to choose when and where they do their weekly coursework. Regular online assignments—combined with short on-site intensives at the beginning and end of the program—help to structure progress through the curriculum, and encourage the discipline of individual persistence and focus.
• The online course format includes multiple instructional tools to provide a varied and engaging learning environment. Learning resources include print materials, audio and video recordings, graphics, interactive elements, and a host of web-based resources, including online tools for discussion, collaboration and teamwork.

Q.What technology do I need to access my online courses?
A: Students in the EMCHS program should be equipped with the following in order to complete their coursework:

• A home or work computer with an active internet connection. A high speed internet connection is preferred for best connectivity and for optimal viewing of online course material including recorded presentations and for participating in interactive meetings.
• Internet service provider capable of running either Internet Explorer, version 6.0 or higher, Netscape Navigator, version 6.02 or higher or, Firefox version 1.0 or higher web browser.
• Microsoft Office 2000 or later version (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
  
• Access to a personal or work email account.
• Computers three years old or less should have sufficient memory, operating system configuration and monitor resolution appropriate for this program.
• Adobe Flash Plug-in, installed on your computer available at www.adobe.com.
• Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0 or higher.
• Audio speakers with your computer to receive audio from online recorded presentations.
• Installed Windows Media Player (PC) and (MAC) on your computer.