Education Clinical Coordinator, Physician Assistant Program

SUMMARY:

The Education Clinical Coordinator (ECC) for the Physician Assistant Program is responsible for securing, cultivating, and managing clinical educational sites to ensure optimal clinical experiences for students. This hybrid position requires the incumbent to work both on campus and in the field, conducting regular visits with preceptors and health system administrators to strengthen relationships and enhance communication between hospitals and the university. The ECC will bridge the gap between clinical sites and the university, facilitating smooth operations and ensuring the program's high standards are maintained.

In addition to these core responsibilities, the ECC plays a pivotal role in providing professional development opportunities for students, addressing student concerns while they are working in clinical sites, and evaluating clinical sites to ensure they meet the educational needs of the program and students. The ECC will work closely with program leadership to integrate clinical education principles into the curriculum and provide ongoing assistance regarding clinical contracts, preceptor agreements, and student placements. The role also involves proactive problem-solving for student clinical shift dilemmas and assisting with the investigation of clinical student issues that require academic actions in accordance with South University policies and procedures.

KEY JOB ELEMENTS:

• Secure and cultivate clinical education sites for the Physician Assistant Program.
• Independently initiate clinical department activities, including student placement in clinical rotations to ensure students meet standards for the program with adequate rotation slots throughout the clinical year.
• Serve as the primary liaison between clinical sites and the university to facilitate effective communication and collaboration between hospital administrators, preceptors, and university faculty.
• Conduct regular site visits to preceptors and health system administrators to maintain and improve relationships.
• Guide students effectively through the process and procedure for document submission to include credentialing requirements, background checks/urine drug screens and immunizations, prior to and during clinical rotations.
• Provide advisement and proactive problem-solving for students regarding clinical scheduling and clinical shift dilemmas.
• Ensure clinical sites provide a high-quality learning environment for students with proper documentation and data collection.
• Coordinate the ongoing maintenance of the clinical curriculum in the relevant digital system including auditing affiliation agreements, student-required logging/submissions, and preceptor files with the currency of licensure.
• Assist in the development and revision of the program’s promotional materials including but not limited to print materials, website, and other marketing materials.
• Organize quarterly registration process and monitor attendance for all current students in the program.
• Maintain documentation to coordinate outside lecturer/preceptor payments, purchase orders, check requests, and vendor requests.
• Complete verification of graduation forms for credentialing services and aid alumni in obtaining required documentation for licensure.
• Assist in planning program activities such as admissions interviews, orientation, graduation, CPR certification courses, alumni events.
• Complete other duties as assigned.

JOB REQUIREMENTS:

Knowledge:

• Bachelor’s degree required with a preference for a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration, Management or related field.
• Clinical healthcare system experience or clinical administrative experience preferred.
• Experience with computerized administrative systems. Proficient with the use standard office applications on personal computers.
• Ability to read, understand, interpret and implement accreditation criteria and state agency regulations.
• Ability to resolve inquiries and complaints from employees, students, regulatory agencies, or members of the academic or business community.
• Ability to effectively present information to faculty, academic and campus leaders, hospital administrators, corporate leaders, and public groups.
• Accreditation (federal, state, regional), and/or programmatic experience preferred.
• Knowledge of planning and scheduling techniques.
• Experience with hospital credentialing processes preferred.

Skills:

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong interpersonal skills with both the university and external clinical population.
• Superior organizational and problem resolution skills.
• Strong basic computer software (MS Office) skills.

Abilities:

• Ability to interact effectively as a member of a team and work collaboratively with all departments.
• Ability to listen to individuals (e.g., students, health system administrators, etc.) and to understand and respond positively to their requests.
• Ability to work without close supervision and to set one’s own priorities and work schedule.
• Ability to work both on campus and in the field, conducting regular visits with preceptors and health system administrators to strengthen relationships and enhance communication between hospitals and the university.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The term "qualified individual with a disability" means an individual with a disability who, with or without reasonable accommodation, can perform the essential functions of the position. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to communicate professionally in person, over the telephone, through email, video conference and other electronic means, move about the office or school, handle various types of media and equipment, and visually or otherwise identify, observe and assess. The employee is occasionally required to lift up to 10 pounds unless otherwise specified in the job description.

South University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and embraces diversity as a critical step in ensuring employee, student and graduate success. We are committed to building and developing a diverse environment where a variety of ideas, cultures and perspectives can thrive.