PHYSICIAN
ASSISTANT
PROGRAM

CLINICAL YEAR
2005-2006

Attendance Policies

General Policy | Absenteeism | Excused Absences | Unexcused Absences

General Policy

The preceptor determines rotation work hours; hours may include nights, weekends, and holidays, as well as an on-call schedule. 

Course syllabi list 172 clinical hours for each rotation. Expect to work far more than this: 16 to 18 twelve-hour shifts on your emergency medicine rotation, 10- to 12-hour days on your surgery and internal medicine rotations (not including call and weekends), and some nights and weekends on all your other rotations. 

Preceptors are not obligated to give days off on weekdays, weekends, or holidays. College snow days are not considered days off while on rotation.

You are to follow reporting instructions; notify the program of any errors or changes.

Within the first 3 days of each rotation you must notify the Program of how you can be reached during regular office hours, and of any permanent or temporary change in your mailing address, phone number, or e-mail address. Send us this information by submitting the Location form. List your work schedule on the form or e-mail your schedule to Barb Williams at CIBAW1@jchs.edu. Include your beeper number if your preceptor gives you one.

Absenteeism

Adherence to scheduled rotation hours and attendance at end-of-rotation activities are mandatory. Failure to fulfill this requirement is considered in the evaluating academic and professional performance and may result in a failing grade for the rotation. The end-of-rotation seminar is considered part of the previous rotation.

If you must be absent from a rotation, or if your schedule has changed, notify both the preceptor and Clinical Coordinator as soon as possible, but never later than 9 am on the day of the absence. If you cannot reach the office, leave a number where you can be reached.

Excused Absences

• Incapacitating illness, injury requiring bed rest, and unexpected family emergencies are considered valid reasons for absenteeism. Business appointments, job interviews, weddings, graduations, and other social events are NOT. Absences for these and other planned activities must be approved in advance by the Clinical Coordinator or designee. Make requests for planned absences must in writing at least 14 days in advance; such requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Any excused absence may require documentation.
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• Time missed from rotation of more than 1 day per 2 full weeks of rotation (e.g., 2 days for a 1-month rotation, 3 days for a 6-week rotation) due to an excused absence must be made up within the affected rotation period. Failure to make up excessive time missed due to an excused absence will result in a grade of "I" (incomplete) for the rotation.
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• A rotation in which a student receives an "I" due to excessive excused absences may be completed at a later date at the discretion of the Clinical Coordinator depending on the availability of the rotation.

Unexcused Absences

• Absences not reported as outlined above will be considered unexcused regardless of cause.
• Planned absences not arranged as outlined above will be considered unexcused.
• All unexcused absences and habitual tardiness will be referred to the Student Evaluation and Promotion Committee. The following actions will also be taken: