Kansas Health Foundation Accomplishments

Grants

Focus Areas • Healthy Behaviors • Public Health • Access to Health Care • Community Philanthropy • Health Data and Information • Civic Leadership

Financial Statements

Foundation Reports

History • Accomplishments

Working Together • Kansas Health Foundation • Kansas Health Institute • Kansas Leadership Center

Kansas Health Leaders

Board

Staff

In the News • In the News Archive

Public Service Campaigns

Annual Reports

Enews

Request Materials

Press Releases • Press Releases Archive

Media Kit

Media Inquiries

Accomplishments

Wichita State University Physician Assistant Program

When the Foundation looked for ways to increase access to quality, affordable health care in rural settings, one option sought was an expansion of the Physician Assistant (PA) program at Wichita State University, the only program of its kind in the state. By the early 1990s, the federal government had mandated that the number of mid-level providers used in rural health clinics be at least 50 percent, making those graduating from PA programs in high demand.

Beginning with a three-year, $1.1 million grant in 1994, the Foundation worked with WSU to expand course offerings, increase enrollment capacity and recruit/retain quality faculty for the program. PAs receive instruction in emergency medicine, surgery, pediatrics, ob-gyn and general medicine, and are able to perform medical tasks and procedures approved by supervising physicians. This training/skill set made PAs ideal for rural settings where one doctor may be covering hundreds of miles.

Within six years of the initial Foundation funding, enrollment increased by more than 50 percent. Computer assisted learning tools and other technological advances became mainstays to the program, and multiple faculty members were brought on board to increase the overall scholarly activities and national involvement of the program. Additionally, the number of clinical rotation sites offered to students increased to more than 100, with more than half being in rural settings.

By 2003, 95 percent of the graduates of the program were accepting jobs within Kansas, with 34 percent practicing in rural areas. Today the PA program is a thriving, master’s level degree program within the College of Health Professions at WSU, boasting a faculty that combined has more than 100 years of clinical experience. The program continues to produce competent, capable health care professionals filling a critical need for health care in previously underserved areas.

FAQ

Contact

Sitemap