Developing criteria for evaluating physician assistants and their educational programs.

Variables which may have validity as predictors of success for both physician assistants and the programs which educate them are discussed. Data from the Hahnemann Physician Assistant Program is used to illustrate a direction for developing evaluation schema to validate these variables. Clearly, analysis of data available from one program cannot be conclusive. It is hoped that this analysis will be helpful in development of a model based on results from many programs to aid in the admissions process for predicting success in the physician assistant profession.