ARC-PA 6th ed Standards A2.14, A2.17, B3.02, B4.01, C2.01
Site visits are a requirement of the ARC-PA to allow the program to observe the preceptor and the clinical site. Additional site visits may be arranged at the discretion of the program. Student clinical site visits will be conducted at least once during the clinical year and are typically conducted by the DCE or a designated PA faculty member. The site visitor will complete the Student Site Visit Form
INITIAL SITE VISITTo be completed, the majority of the time, before sending a student to a new clinical site or soon after the initial student rotation starts. The purpose is to ensure the safety and appropriateness of the clinical site to meet program outcomes.
ONGOING SITE VISITTo be completed when it is deemed necessary by the DCE. The purpose is to ensure the site remains safe and appropriate for fulfilling the respective outcomes.
STUDENT CLINICAL SITE VISITTo be completed at least once during the clinical phase of the program. These visits allow faculty to observe the student and preceptor at the clinical site and address their questions or feedback.
Acceptable methods for new site visits, ongoing site visits, and student clinical site visits include:
ARC-PA 6th ed Standard A1.02e
The DCE is responsible for documenting appropriate safety measures at clinical sites during the clinical year. The department routinely assesses sites and safety measures utilizing the following: Specific site information from Affiliation Agreements, Initial Site Approval, Ongoing Site Visits, Student Site Visits, and Student Evaluation Preceptor/Site/SCPE forms. In addition, communication with the point of contact for the sites (including, but not limited to, the office manager, practice manager, preceptor, or onboarding contact) reinforces the documentation of appropriate safety measures for the students.
Clinical year PA students must comply with published site-specific safety and security policies when at designated clinical sites. This information is available at each clinical site. Additional information is also available, where applicable, in the site profile in Typhon. When clinical year PA students are on GWU campus, GWU safety and security policies apply.Students should refer to the University Emergency Response Guide for additional information and instructions.
Gardner-Webb University embraces a campus-wide policy regarding alcohol and drug use that applies to all PA students within the GWU Department of PA studies, didactic and clinical. The student must know that SCPE site-specific policies and procedures related to alcohol and drugs supersede the Gardner-Webb University Gayle Bolt Price School of Graduate Studies Student Handbook. Students should see the preceptor and SCPE site contact for specific details. If the student is removed from the SCPE site due to impairment issues, the student MUST notify the clinical team using the PA Clinical Emergency Call Number (704-406-2523). (The student should leave a voicemail, and the On-Call Faculty will return the student’s call as soon as possible.) While many states have legalized the use of marijuana, GWU continues to consider marijuana an illegal substance in adherence to the current federal law.
The GWU Department of PA Studies reserves the right to require random drug screens throughout a PA student’s enrollment in the university. Should a GWU PA student be removed from a SCPE or the classroom due to impairment with illicit drugs or alcohol or found to have illegal substances on a drug screen (routine or random), the student will be brought before the Academic Progression Committee (APC) for review of their academic standing, to include consideration for dismissal.
