Is Your Institution Ready to Launch or Expand a PA Program?
Interest in launching or expanding physician assistant programs continues to create opportunities for colleges and universities. But identifying an opportunity is only the beginning.
Before committing to a new PA program, larger cohort, additional location, or new delivery model, institutional leaders need to determine whether the organization is truly positioned to support the program over the long term.
What should universities consider before launching a PA program?
PA program readiness requires an institution-wide evaluation of strategic fit, financial sustainability, accreditation responsibilities, faculty and clinical capacity, and the ability to successfully implement and continuously improve the program.
That means asking questions that extend well beyond whether there is student demand.
Five questions to ask before moving forward
Strelis has developed an executive guide to help university and health sciences leaders evaluate PA program opportunities from a whole-program perspective.
Five Institutional Questions to Answer Before Launching or Expanding a PA Program (opens in a new tab) explores the critical questions institutions should consider before making major program commitments.
Read the full guide (opens in a new tab)
PA program readiness is an institutional decision
A feasibility study can help determine whether an opportunity is viable. Accreditation planning can help an institution prepare to meet applicable requirements. Data can help leaders understand program performance.
But none of those elements replaces institutional decision-making and execution.
Successful PA program development requires leaders to understand where gaps exist, determine how they will be addressed, assign accountability, and create a realistic path from planning through implementation.
Considering a new PA program or the expansion of an existing program?
Schedule a PA Program Strategy Conversation with Strelis to assess institutional readiness, identify potential gaps, and develop a practical path forward.
