Other Information
Health Insurance
All graduate students must carry personal health insurance. Students must demonstrate proof of insurance on three occasions that includes an insurance card that identifies active insurance coverage at didactic year orientation, February of MPAS1 year, and again in January of MPAS2 year. The information must include the name of the insurance company and the policy number. Please note that healthcare share plans are not the same as health insurance and are not in compliance with this policy. Bring personal Health Insurance cards to orientation and the January End of Rotation meeting. The cards will be photocopied and kept in student files with the PA Program and Butler University Health Services. Students must also sign a waiver indicating that they have personal health insurance. (See Appendix E)
Students will be personally liable for any expenses incurred for things like needle stick evaluations and prophylaxis, treatment for TB exposure, etc., and may wish to review personal health insurance policy to see if it covers these expenses.
Personal health insurance may be used at Butler University Health Services. Health Services will bill a student’s health insurance for services rendered. If a student is seen at Health Services, an up-to-date health insurance card and Butler ID must be presented. If a student is unable to present with an insurance card, office services will be applied to the student’s account.
Change of Name and Address
If a student has a change of address locally and/or at home, it should be registered with the University at the Office of Registration and Records to ensure receipt of important mailings. The same procedure should be followed for any name changes. Students should notify the PA Program as well by emailing PAprogram@butler.edu.
Tobacco Use
Tobacco use in any form is not permitted in the Pharmacy and Health Sciences Building or other campus buildings.
Room Reservations
Rooms in the Pharmacy and Health Sciences Building must be reserved in advance for use by any student organization. All rooms in the Pharmacy Building, as well as other campus facilities, may be reserved by student organizations through the Campus Activities Office (Atherton 101). The request is then taken to the Office of University Events (Service Center, Room 118). Only student organizations recognized by the University may request and use space in the Pharmacy Building for organization activities.
Student Employment
The Faculty advises against outside employment while in the didactic and clinical phase of the PA Program. (Accreditation Standard A3.14h) Faculty recognize employment may be an issue that some students will face. Given this recognition, realize that Program obligations will not be altered due to a student’s work obligations. It is further expected that work obligations will not interfere with the student’s learning progress or responsibilities while in the Program. The Program also discourages the student from working at the same site where they are completing clinical rotations.
PA students are not required to work for the PA Program. (Accreditation Standard A3.15e) Students will not substitute for or function as instructional faculty. (Accreditation Standard A3.05) During the supervised clinical practical experiences, students will not substitute for clinical or administrative staff. Any student on a clinical experience who is being required to primarily fulfill job duties of a certified PA or administrative staff person must notify the Director of Experiential Education. (Accreditation Standard A3.05) Any report will be fully investigated by the Program and suitable action will be taken.
On occasion, the faculty or staff of the Program may make a request for a student to perform volunteer activities for the Program. Students will not be obligated to volunteer.
Student employment through the university work-study program will be governed by university policies.
Faculty as Healthcare Providers
Principal faculty, the Program Director, and the Medical Director must not participate as health care providers for students in the Program, except in an emergency. (Accreditation Standard A3.09)
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act – HIPAA
The primary goal of the law is to make it easier for people to keep health insurance, protect the confidentiality and security of healthcare information, and help the healthcare industry control administrative costs. Once matriculated, all students will be required to complete HIPAA training which will require updating or re-certification prior to starting clinical rotations.
Letters of Reference and Credentialing Requests
Without exception, all requests for letters of reference or for completion of forms relating to academic performance and/or personal qualities require written authorization from the student (or graduate) for release of such information. Most faculty prefer an email or personal request in writing with sufficient lead-time (it is best requested two weeks in advance), and instructions such as date and format of the letter.
When making a request to faculty, please include the full name of the scholarship/position and the overall purpose and guidelines. If appropriate, please include a summary of pertinent comments from clinical preceptor evaluations, and an updated resume/CV. The number of recommendation letters required of principal faculty is significant; therefore, students should consider others who could also write these letters (an advisor, an instructor or mentor, clinical preceptor, etc.) and make requests as early as possible.
Credentialing or privilege forms are generally required for hospital employment. Students must make a formal request to faculty before providing a faculty name and contact information.
Any form submitted to faculty without prior approval will not be completed. Faculty are not expected to complete forms after 1-year post-graduation date.
Student Handbook Acknowledgement
After reading the Student Handbook, students should initial and sign the two Handbook signature pages (Appendix G and H). Return both documents to the Butler University PA Program Offices—one will be returned to the student.