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We believe that it is a time for change within the Physician Associate (Assistant) framework. We further believe that education and performance should be the hallmark of evaluating Physician Associates (Assistant) for recertification. We are in the process of developing new methodologies to more accurately gauge and support the medical knowledge base of PA's. These methodologies will work in coordination with the established credentialing departments already in place at the facilities that Physician Associates work. We are also coordinating development of post graduate study courses that will allow Physician Associates to stay abreast of the ever evolving medical landscape. The final product will be a more effective way to educate and monitor Physician Associate's throughout their careers while allowing their actual on the ground performance to be the focal point for evaluating them for recertification.
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Physician Associate Re-certified
Recertification
The recertification mark shall be utilized by authorized personnel who have met the licensing requirements of their State and the National Association For Physician Associate Recertification (NAFPAR) organization. Authorized personnel shall be limited to them who have practiced for at least six years as a mid-level medical provider (Physician Assistant/ Physician Associate). As such, the mark will only be worn by persons who have.........read more.
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Physician Assistant Information and History
A Physician assistant (PA) is a healthcare professional who is trained to practice medicine as part of a team with a physician. Physician assistants are concerned with preventing and treating human illness and injury by providing a broad range of health care services that are traditionally performed by a physician. Physician assistants conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, prescribe medications, counsel on preventive health care and may assist in surgery.
History
The PA profession was first proposed when Charles Hudson recommended to the AMA in 1961 the "creation of two new groups of assistants to doctors from nonmedical and nonnursing personnel." Dr. Eugene A. Stead, Jr. of the Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina assembled the first class of physician assistants in 1965, composed of former U.S. Navy hospital corpsmen.[6] He based the curriculum of the PA program in part on his first-hand knowledge of the fast-track training of medical doctors during World War II. Two other physicians, Dr. Richard Smith at the University of Washington, and Dr. Hu Myers at Alderson-Broaddus College, also launched their own programs in the mid and late 1960s.
It was not until 1970 that the AMA passed a resolution to develop educational guidelines and certification procedures for PAs. The Duke University Medical Center Archives has established the Physician Assistant History Center, dedicated to the study, preservation, and presentation of the history of the PA profession.
In the United States, "National Physician Assistant Week" is celebrated annually from October 6 through October 12. This week was chosen to commemorate the anniversary of the first graduating physician assistant class at Duke University on October 6, 1967.
Information obtained from Wikipedia
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Environment
Physician
assistants work in hospitals, clinics, and other types of health
facilities, and exercise autonomy in medical decision making as
determined by their supervising or sponsoring physician. A period of
clinical training precedes obtaining a license to practice as a
physician assistant. Renewal of licensure is necessary every few
years, varying by state.
Scope of Practice
PAs are medical professionals. They typically obtain medical histories, perform examinations and procedures, order treatments, diagnose diseases, prescribe medication, order and interpret diagnostic tests, refer patients to specialists as required, and first or second-assist in surgery. Physician assistants' scope of practice is delineated in their PA-Physician practice agreement. PAs are employed in primary care or in specialties in urban or rural regions, as well as in academic administration.
Physician assistants have their own medical licenses and do not work under a physician's license. Each of the 50 states has different laws regarding the prescription of medications by mid-level practitioners (which include PAs) by State and the licensing authority granted to each category within that particular State through the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). PAs in Florida, Kentucky, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are not allowed to prescribe, order, dispense, or administer any controlled substances. Several other states place a limit on the type of controlled substance or the quantity that can be prescribed, dispensed, or administered by a PA.
Depending upon the specific laws of any given state board of medicine, the PA must have a formal relationship on file with a collaborative physician supervisor. The physician collaborator must also be licensed in the state in which the PA is working, although he or she may physically be located elsewhere. Physician supervision can be in person, by telecommunication systems or by other reliable means (for example, availability for consultation).
Information obtained from Wikipedia
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Images
Images of Physician Associates at work in the field.
License Information
Licensing is determined by State mandated regulations that differ
from State to State.
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