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Physician assistant

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A physician assistant in the United States, Canada and other select countries or physician associate in the United Kingdom ( PA ) is an Advanced Practice Provider (APP). PAs are medical professionals who diagnose illness, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications, and often serve as a patient’s principal healthcare provider. With thousands of hours of medical training, PAs are versatile and collaborative. PAs practice in every state and in every medical setting and specialty, improving healthcare access and quality. In the United States and Canada physician assistants are nationally certified by their respective certifying body. Physician assistants complete their qualifications for certification in less time than a traditional medical degree by following an educational model based on the fast-tracked training of physicians during the shortage of providers during World War II.

Nomenclature

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The occupational title of physician assistant and physician associate originated in the United States in 1967 at Duke University in North Carolina. In the United States, a certified PA may add "C" at the end of their credentials (PA-C). This credential is awarded upon the successful completion of the Physician Assistant National Certification Exam (PANCE) administered by the national commission on certification of physician assistants and subsequently certification with the respective medical board or equivalent in the state which the physician assistant intends to practice. In a few select states, the title (PA-R) is used as an equivalent of (PA-C). In Canada, a certified PA may add "CC" at the beginning of their credentials (CCPA) which refers to Canadian Certified Physician Assistant. This credential is awarded upon the successful completion of the Canadian physician assistant entry to practice certification examination administered by the physician assistant c

Overview

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Physician assistants or physician associates may: conduct patient interviews and take medical histories conduct physical examinations order and interpret diagnostic tests and exams diagnose illnesses formulate treatment plans coordinate and manage care perform medical procedures prescribe medications conduct clinical research patient counselling advise on preventative health care first assist in surgery Physician assistants train to work in settings such as hospitals, clinics and other types of health facilities or virtually via telemedicine services. Physician assistants are commonly found working in academics, teaching and research as well as hospital administration and other clinical environments. Physician assistants may practice in primary care or medical specialties, including emergency medicine, surgery, cardiology, etc. Extensive clinical training precedes obtaining a certification to practice as a physician assistant. Physician assistant education is similar to phys

History

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In 1961, Charles Hudson recommended to the American Medical Association, the creation of new medical providers. Eugene A. Stead of the Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina assembled the first class of physician assistants in 1965, composed of four former US Navy Hospital Corpsmen. He based the curriculum of the PA program on his first-hand knowledge of the fast-track training of medical doctors during World War II. Two other physicians, Richard Smith at the University of Washington in Seattle, and Hu Myers at Alderson-Broaddus College in Philippi, West Virginia, also launched their own programs in the mid and late 1960s. And Dr. J. Willis Hurst started the Emory University Physician Assistant Program in 1967. Beginning in January 1971, the US Army produced eight classes of physician assistants, at 30 students per class, through the Academy of Health Sciences, Brooke Medical Center, Fort Sam Houston, Texas (academically accredited by Baylor University, Texas). In 2017, appro

United Kingdom

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Overview edit The position of physician associate was established in the United Kingdom in 2005. It evolved from that of physician assistant, developed in the US in the 1960s. In 2012, the profession voted to change the name to physician associate to distinguish it from another with the same name within the NHS. Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was asked to manage the recruitment of 200 physician associates who are expected to come from the US for 40 NHS trusts in September 2015. Faculty of Physician Associates at the Royal College of Physicians of London edit The Faculty of Physician Associates is the professional body for Physician Associates working in the United Kingdom. A joint venture between the Royal College of Physicians of London and the previous professional body, the United Kingdom Associate of Physician Associates, the Faculty officially launched in July 2015, taking over all professional body rights from then on. The Faculty oversee the managed voluntary registe

United States

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Regulation edit In the United States, the profession is represented by the American Academy of Physician Assistants, and all PAs must graduate from a nationally accredited ARC-PA program as well as passing the national certification exam. 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 had established the Physician Assistant History Center, dedicated to the study, preservation, and presentation of the history of the profession. The PA History Center became its own institution in 2011, was renamed the PA History Society, and is now located in Johns Creek, Georgia. Education and certification edit As of May 2019update, there were 243 accredited PA programs in the United States, and dozens more in development, represented by the Physician Assistant Education Association. Most educational programs are graduate programs leading to the award of master's degrees in ei

Canada

Overview edit As of October 2018update, there are approximately 800 physician assistants working in healthcare settings in Canada. The first formally trained physician assistants graduated in 1984 from the Canadian Forces Medical Services School at Borden, Ontario. The Canadian Medical Association (CMA) recognized physician assistants as a health professional in 2003. Physician assistants are able to perform medical functions such as ordering tests, diagnosing diseases, prescribing medications, treating patients, educating patients and performing various medical and surgical procedures. Physician assistants are labeled under the federal government national occupational classification code 3124: allied primary health practitioners. Education and Certification edit The first civilian physician assistant education programs were launched in 2008 at the University of Manitoba and McMaster University. In 2010, a third civilian program was launched by the consortium of physician assistant ed

New Zealand

In February 2015, Health Workforce New Zealand completed a Phase-2 trial of PAs who worked for a period of two years (2013-2015) in four clinical settings. Specifically, the sites included one rural emergency department and three primary care settings (two rural and one urban) located on the North and South Islands of New Zealand. At conclusion of the trial, several clinics continued to employ PAs while the process of health regulation makes its way through the government bureaucracy.

Australia

In 2011, Health Workforce Australia began developing the role of physician assistant throughout the country culminating with registration and a PA Program based out of James Cook University. Despite all initial indicators showing that the new profession would be successfully integrated into the health care system, the progress has floundered resulting in the majority of PAs in Australia being unemployed.

India

The first PA program in India was established in 1992.