In June 1996, the University of Colorado School of Medicine (including the Child Health Associate/Physician Assistant Program) adopted the following technical standards for admission, promotion and graduation for their doctor of medicine and physician assistant programs. Candidates for the degree of doctor of medicine and candidates for the certification of completion of an accredited physician assistant program must be able to meet these minimum standards, with or without reasonable accommodation, for successful completion of degree requirements.
II. Standards
A. Observation
A student must be able to observe lectures, demonstrations and experiments in the basic sciences including, but not limited to, anatomic, physiologic and pharmacological demonstrations in cadavers and animals, microbiologic cultures and microscopic studies of microorganisms and tissues. He/she must be able to observe digital and waveform readings to determine a patient's condition. A student must be able to visually interpret diagnostic studies. Observation necessitates the functional use of vision, hearing and somatic senses.
B. Communication
A student must be able to communicate effectively with patients, teachers and all members of the health care team. He/she must communicate with patients in order to elicit information regarding mood, activity and posture and to perceive nonverbal communications. Communication includes speech, hearing, reading and writing.
C. Motor
A student must have sufficient motor function to elicit information from patients by palpation, auscultation, percussion and other diagnostic maneuvers. He/she should be able to do basic laboratory tests (e.g., slide preparation) and perform diagnostic procedures (e.g., lumbar puncture, thoracentesis, paracentesis). A student must be able to execute motor movements reasonably required to provide routine and emergency care and treatment to patients. Examples of emergency treatment reasonably required of physicians and physician assistants are cardiopulmonary resuscitation, administration of intravenous medication, application of pressure to stop bleeding and opening of obstructed airways.
D. Intellectual, conceptual, integrative and quantitative abilities
A student must be able to solve problems involving measurement, calculation, reasoning, analysis and synthesis. He/she must be able to synthesize knowledge and integrate the relevant aspects of a patient's history, physical findings and diagnostic studies. Students must be able to use this information to develop a diagnosis and to monitor treatment plans and modalities. In addition, a student must be able to comprehend three-dimensional relationships and to understand the spatial relationships of structures (e.g., macroscopic and microscopic structures).
E. Behavioral and social attributes
A student must demonstrate full utilization of his (her) intellectual abilities, the exercise of good judgment and the prompt completion of all responsibilities attendant to the diagnosis and care of patients. He/she must have the capacity for the development of mature, sensitive and effective relationships with patients. A student must be able to tolerate physically- and mentally-taxing workloads and function effectively under stress. As a component of medical education, a student must demonstrate ethical behavior.
III. Reasonable Accommodation
It is the policy of the CU School of Medicine to provide reasonable accommodation to qualified students with a disability so they can meet these required technical standards. Whether or not a requested accommodation is reasonable will be determined on an individual basis. Determining what is a reasonable accommodation is an interactive process which the candidate should initiate with the associate dean for student affairs for the medical school and with the director of the Child Health Associate Physician Assistant Program.
