University Hospitals Wins National Partnership Award from Physician Assistant Education Association

Honor highlights unique relationship of the UH/Case Western Reserve University PA Collaborative program

UH Clinical Update | November 2021

The Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) has awarded University Hospitals its 2021 Partnership Award for the collaboration and partnership that has been fostered to support the UH/Case Western Reserve University PA Collaborative program. The Partnership Award recognizes an individual or institution that has provided support to a PA program and made a noteworthy contribution to PA education.

“University Hospitals has been a valuable partner for the Case Western Reserve University Physician Assistant Program since the program’s inception,” the organization said in a statement. “In addition to playing a vital role in clinical education, University Hospitals was instrumental in securing a wide range of clinical rotation placements throughout the institution, spanning various medical specialties at hospitals and office locations. Since 2019, more than 100 PA students have participated in a collaborative student program with University Hospitals, including pre-clinical clerkship and Quality Improvement project student groups. Additionally, during COVID-19, University Hospitals developed, initiated, and implemented a new path forward that allowed Case Western Reserve PA students to continue participating in clinical rotations and clinical experiences. Due to their dedication and diligence, no student was left unassigned to a clinical space, which was an enormous achievement during the pandemic.”

At UH, the team of Kathy Day, UHPS Nurse Manager, Casey Kocel, UHPS Educator, and Erin Slay, System Director, Advanced Practice and UHPS Director of Nursing, have partnered with the UH Primary Care Institute and ambulatory clinical operations to achieve these results, engaging first- and second-year PA students in quality and value initiatives.

“First-year students are embedded into primary care clinical practices to gain further insight into the roles of each team member in the delivery of care in the physician office space,” says Slay. “They are able to experience hands-on care of patients and witness the impact of each team member on patient outcomes. Second-year students are placed on strategic quality committees across the ambulatory frame; HLD/Sterilization, Ambulatory Clinical Policy and Procedure, as well as Environment of Care/Life Safety. The students are embedded in these committees as contributing members.”

Slay says she and her fellow team members are gratified that PAEA has recognized this distinctive PA education model.

“This collaborative program is unique to UH and Case Western Reserve University, as there is no evidence of a comparable program across the country,” she says. “We are humbled by the great work of both institutions and the ability to bring this model to our patients and students.”