PA interview question

-The most stressful situation and how you dealt with it

Situation Task Action Result

-What makes a person likeable?

Someone who truly listens to someone. It is important that they not just listen but actually HEAR the concerns/needs of the individual.

-Why the U?

Specific to EACH school! PANCE pass rate: Length of accreditation: Rank in Nation: When are clinicals?: Student to teacher ratio:

-What do you think about Obama Care?

I know enough. Several classes I took as an undergrad in public health discussed the subject of obama care

-What if you don't get in?

call [name of program admissions director]- evaluate and research why and then create a game plan for how to make my weak areas strenghts; apply the next round.

What is managed care and how has it affected physicians and PAs?

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What part of becoming a PA and practicing medicine as a PA do you look forward to most, and what parts do you think will give you the most difficulty and why?

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What was the name of the interviewers you met already today?

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state legislation

-Defines a medical laser procedure and defines what an ablative laser procedure is. It permits the delegation of certain cosmetic laser procedures by a physician. Requires on site supervision by a physician if the cosmetic procedure is delegated. This bill prohibits the delegation of supervision when supervision is required. -Amends the effective date for controlled substances provider training, provides that completing an online tutorial and test counts as 0.5 CME on controlled substances prescribing -Provides that a medical retainer agreement in which a health care provider agrees to provide routine health care services to a patient in exchange for a prepaid fee is not a health benefit plan subject to regulation by the Insurance Department

What is evidence based medicine?

-Evidence-based health care is the conscientious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients or the delivery of health services. Current best evidence is up-to-date information from relevant, valid research about the effects of different forms of health care, the potential for harm from exposure to particular agents, the accuracy of diagnostic tests, and the predictive power of prognostic factors -Evidence-based clinical practice is an approach to decision-making in which the clinician uses the best evidence available, in consultation with the patient, to decide upon the option which suits that patient best -Evidence-based medicine is the conscientious, explicit and judicious use of current best evidence in making decisions about the care of individual patients. The practice of evidence-based medicine means integrating individual clinical expertise with the best available external clinical evidence from systematic research

-What is the difference between nurse practioner and PA?

-RN with advanced education and clinical training -Practice independently or in collaboration with physician, depending on state requirements -Recertified every 5 years -May sit for appropriate examination or meet clinical practice and continuing education requirements PAs -Licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision -Disease centered, emphasis on the biologic/pathologic aspects of health, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment -Requires 100 hours of Category 1 CME every 2 years and exam every 6 years

Federal legislation-

-Updating the Federal Workers' Compensation Program to Allow PAs to Diagnose and Treat Federal Employees Who are Injured on the Job -Payment for Medicare Covered Services Provided by Physician Assistants -Allowing Physician Assistants to Order Home Health and Hospice Care for Medicare Patients -Extending Medicaid Electronic Health Records Incentive Payments to Physician Assistants

-Tell me something about yourself

-Well Rounded (athletic academic musician) -many leadership opportunities -Many opportunities to serve others in church and my community -Enjoy being involved in the community and working to solve issues. -I have loved learning and loved working and volunteering in healthcare.

Obamacare

-after going through the book "Landmark" -Insure 32 million of the 50 million that are uninsured -insure pre-existing conditions -stay on parents insurance until 26 - fast food over 20 chains calorie counts -Bring medicaid reimbursements up to medicare levels (pa shadowing at family practice) -Medicare pay for yearly preventive visits and preventative services(not sure but they may include things like breast exams, bone density) - Free birth control and other preventative services for women, unless you work for a faith-based organization that opposes birth control.

-Family Practice clinic scenario HIV positive

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-Have you been at work or at school and had to deal with an ethical situation?

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-Narcotics situation

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-What do you do in the Jehovah Witness situation?

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Describe the day of a hypothetical surgical PA and that of a medical PA?

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Have you applied to other schools? If so, how did you come to choose those other programs?

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How do you see the healthcare system changing in the next ten years, and how will it affect PAs?

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How has your background prepared you for the intense physical and mental training to become a PA?

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What are the most significant issues PAs currently face and will have to face in the future?

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What contributions would you make to our program?

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What do you know about the history of a PA?

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What do you think are the three most important aspects in evaluating a PA program?

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What is a dependent practitioner, and how do you feel about practicing as one?

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-What does it mean to be a dependent practioner?

A dependant practitioner is someone who must practice under the supervison of a higher authority. For example, physician assistants are dependent practitioners who are required to work under a physician.

how will Obama care effect PA's

At this points the implications are still unknown but.......Coombs-"PA's have many advantages that will work in our favor. These include flexible specialty choice, relatively lower student loan debt, generalist training models, shorter time span from college to career, high demand for services, and well-monitored state practice acts. Our ability to adapt with a changing health care environment will be increasingly important in this tumultuous time."

What legislation is there concerning PAs right now?

Currently medicare will not pay for PAs to work with hospice patients. -with alot of legislation and changes in healthcare it important that PA's are specifically mentioned and clarified in the legislation.

What is evidence based learning?

Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is the process of systematically reviewing, appraising and using clinical research findings to aid the delivery of optimum clinical care to patients.

-Do you think everyone should be entitled to health care?

I believe everyone should be entitled to healthcare. Everyone has a right to live after all. I have been in rough situations in which my belief was tested (drug addict pt who snuck drugs into the hospital the night before his surgery which delayed his surgery for multiple days).

-Do you think all PA programs should be Master's levels?

I believe that the intensity of the program justifies a master level education/training and that as all programs transition to master level it brings more credibility to the profession

-Why should we choose you rather than the other candidates?

I can only speak to what I can offer you. Throughout life I have developed a good work ethic. I am determined and when I make a commitment to something I do whatever it takes to fulfill that commitment. I am passionate about being a PA and you will find that I will bring that passion to the program. When I believe in something I will be an advocate of it. As I become involved in the program I will promote it and become an advocate while during the program and after.

-Are you a Democrat or Republican?

I do not vote by party; I vote by canidate. If I am going to take my time to vote, I will thoroughly research the canidates and see whose ideals are closest to my own.

If you had to be a member of the healthcare team other than a PA, what would you choose?

I only want to be a PA. I have a past as a nursing assistant but I have noticed a cap to my skills and education. I chose to be a PA to expand on this. If I had to choose, I would still be a nursing assistant becuase I enjoyed working with the many patients I have met.

-How would you deal with someone who looked like they were cheating in class?

I was faced with thi situation a few times during my undergrad education. I saw student in phyics classes using their phones under their desks. I was unable to pin point who exactly was cheating but I did inform my professor (when I turned in my test) to have his TAs look very closely when they are scanning the room for cheating and informed him there were a

-Weakness

I put a lot on my plate; wayy too much sometimes. Thats the curse of growing up well rounded. You think you can do everything.

- Explain to me your undergraduate grades

I started school like most teenagers, unsure of what to do with the new found freedom. Within 6 months my grandmother was going through the process of recieveing a liver transplant while her health declined. When that started, I was spending every weekend (Fri-sun) at my grandparents house. My grandmother recieved a transplant in november and was sent home in the begining of february 2010. I continured spending every weekend with my grandparents while during the week i was taking regular college courses during the day and CNA classes at a technical school at night. My grandmother passed away less than a month after being discharged. I continued spending weekends with my grandfather because I wasn't sure how he'd handle losing his wife of 50 years. By june he was dignosed with stomach cancer that had metasticized to the liver and he passed away on july 4th. Forgot to mention my dad lost his job in feb 2010 with the turn of the economy. So i took up CNA classes so I could start working to take care of myself. My mom lost her job july 2010. I Started working as a CNA full time in august 2010 and have been working full time ever since so I could pay for school and take care of myself so I could take some financial burden off my parents. Couldn't get scholarships or financial aid until 2013 becuase my parents were making "too much money" Basically I had a full plate and didnt hold school as a top priority.

-Physician Assistant or Physician Associate

I think Physician Associate better explains the true role of a PA, but one problem that PA's have is for the general public to understand what and who they are. Changing the name may

-If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be?

I would be a palm tree. I was born and raised in a tropical climate and do not do well in the cold for long periods of time. Their strength has survived hurricane force winds and yet they are kind enough to provide shade on a hot summers day.

-Tell me about your most memorable patient

In 4 years I have had way too many. I can recall several patients in several situations. -Howard the sweet naked man who wanted to be shot -Zaminillo- man who spoke many languages and was pushed by his family to get a surgery he never wanted (which ultimately killed him) -Bland- bipolar schizofranic pt who -Walked into pt room at night to find him crying to a certain country song (one that i cried to when my grandparents passed)

UAPA

Kelli Fife who is helping with the membership committee - We have been talking about how UAPA can best tap into the demographic of pre-PA students to help bolster membership

-Strengths

Laid-back analyzer. I observe and analyze situations without stress.

Who is the most important person on the healthcare team?

Most important would signify that the group is not a team. A team works together and each individual position is just as "important" as the next. For there to be a "most important" position, the group would be an organization

-What color would you be?

My favorite color has always been red, but my personality is the complete opposite. I am more relaxed and layed back, like the color blue.

-Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Practicing emergency medicine as a physician assistant.

-24 hour shift situation, gave wrong medication,

The wrong medication would not be given. I have had experience working 24 hour shifts as a home health aid and 16 hour shifts as a nursing assistant. I prepare myself as needed (proper rest/relaxation) for the lenght of the shift prior to starting. I also have past eexperience as a medication assistant in which I passed medications to the proper resident/patient.

What is the most important factor between a PA and his physician supervisor and why?

Trust and communication. They go hand in hand honestly. If someone lacks communication, how can you trust their decisions and actions.

-Why do you want to be a PA?

Wanting to find meaningful work that is fulfilling.

Will Obamacare be good for PAs?

YES, The goal of healthcare reform weather obamacare or not comes down to lowering costs of healthcare but still not compromising the quality of care. PA's are the answer to lower cost high quality healthcare