ABSTRACT
Variables which may have validity as predictors of success for both physician assistants and the programs which educate them are discussed. Data from the Hahnemann Physician Assistant Program is used to illustrate a direction for developing evaluation schema to validate these variables. Clearly, analysis of data available from one program cannot be conclusive. It is hoped that this analysis will be helpful in development of a model based on results from many programs to aid in the admissions process for predicting success in the physician assistant profession.
Subject(s)
Certification , Clinical Competence , Physician Assistants/education , Educational Measurement , Evaluation Studies as Topic , PennsylvaniaABSTRACT
To test the feasibility of defining episodes of care as a cost-effectiveness measure, a pilot study was carried out in conjunction with an ongoing quality assessment program which involved abstracting prospective data from charts of patients treated for hypertension in the Primary Care Clinic of Hahnemann Medical College and Hospital. For comparison, data were abstracted retrospectively on hypertensive patients treated by faculty general internists in a fee-for-service private practice. The 12-month course of each patient was divided into controlled and uncontrolled episodes for which visit frequency rate and mean laboratory test utilization was calculated. Patient cost for each type of episode in each setting was calculated using standard charges. Results indicate that the episode definition is feasible and provides a measure for comparing the cost-effectiveness of different delivery systems treating the same health care problem. Factors omitted from the study that could affect cost-effectiveness are also discussed.
