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Some of these comments are missing the point. If you really think that changing our name is going to be the thing that will get us to a higher level is obtuse thinking. Secondly, you need to read the discussion of the Clinical Doctorate reports that are listed and then you will have a better understanding of why our profession does not need a doctorate. It does nothing to the education or improvement for patients, and neither does the DNP. In fact, be careful of what you wish for. The DNP's wanted to be special with their degree and test, and now have a 50% FAIL rate for their boards.

Dan ,  MHP, PA-CJuly 15, 2009
Portsmouth, VA

If AAPA would take a stance and change the name back to Physician Associate, we wouldn't be ignored. Also, consider the doctorate or we will definitely be left behind, the stance on no doctorate degree is stupid. Wake up AAPA!!!!!!!!!

Nachet ,  PA-CJuly 13, 2009
VI



"Our work has always been that we are champions of patient-centered care," Lord says. "We haven't spent our careers caring about our name or our credentials; we're in the trenches."

In fact many/most of us have cared about our name (assistant vs associate discussions have been relatively ignored by the AAPA)as well as credentials discussions(look how the Doctorate is now being played down).

AAPA has been out of touch for years and it pretty much shows with the 5% voter participation in the recent election (also shrugged-off to being a result of the 'first' all electronic voting).

NP's have marketed their education criteria and practice independance very effectively, and it is paying off.

marc July 09, 2009

In response to the comment above (ie Reginald Smith)

Dear Reginald,

Using correct grammar is as important as practicing good medicine as a physician asst.

Robert Albanese,  PA-cJuly 08, 2009
Sarasota, FL

Most who vote for this "Smooth-talking" President(Kind a reminds you of some other person that had a nickname"Slick Willie") just wanted change and now we will all pay for it. I believe the ones in Washington do not know what a PA is or what we can provide. Healthcare is a train wreck and I got into this to care for my patients that I see. Cost are non-affordable to many patients I see and have seen in the past places that I have practiced. So you have to be do the best you can for them. Having the government in our business is like having the fox in the chicken coop. The care will not be what we want or can provide because we have some 6-figured government bureaucrat who just sees cost(except for his salary & benefits). He will determine if the patient needs that CT, MRI,medicine or surgery. You can ask many providers(PAs, NPs,physician,nurses and other allied health care providers)and patients on the American Indian Reservations clinics/hospitals or at all VA clinics, hopsitals. There is a saying at Indian Reservation clinics is you do not get sick in June. That is because the is no money to obtain the care that is needed. There is a high healthcare provider turnover in these areas for a reason. But still as a experienced PA I will do the best I can for my patients with what I got.

Reginald Smith,  PA-C,  SEAVIN-FMSC clinicJuly 07, 2009
AE

Strange, since I saw a pic of Obama on the AAPA website recently, surrounded by PAs. Maybe he thought they were NPs? For all of his usual well chosen words, I think it is perplexing as to why he did not mention PAs. Hoping that an "answer" will be forthcoming?!

Barbara July 06, 2009

Yes there are a few PAs working in the White House.

Our health care costs aren't skyrocketed because of salaries of the providers. Sure unnecessary CTs and MRIs could be cut back, but the real problem is the piggy back non-medical big-brother system that we have bought off on. Coding, computer systems for coding, Lean-sigma six green belts and black belts. The system has turned into a circus of several non-providers making 6 figure salaries all in the name of "efficiency"! Get real!

Nate July 04, 2009

I do not think Pres.Obama is making an intentional oversight. I do agree that the name 'assistant' is still off-putting. I'm a 57 year old PA and I'm tired of the profession being left out and people thinking we are there to "assist the doctor". I've gone to Albany and to Washington to talk to legislative staff. Now, even the PA name is co-opted. Personal assistants, public address, even prior authorizations we fill out for insurance companies are "PA".We need to be called something more definitive.Maybe then we won't be forgotten.Wish I had a dollar for every time I've had to explain that I am not a medical assistant.The system and the patients need us-we've wasted too many years explaining.

Lynne ,  Physician AssistantJuly 03, 2009
Rochester, NY

Lots of people should feel well rewarded for all the effort they put in to get this man elected.
Think! Add 47 million people to the system, provide better care -all for less money! If you can't see that health care professionals will be working for a whole lot less with a much lower level of care then you probably deserve the "change" you didn't expect.

Health care costs are what they are because of our legal system. How many unneeded CT scans, lab test are ordered just in case. Does our current system need improved? Yes. Do we need socialized medicine? NO!

Rex July 03, 2009
Milford, DE

Both the president and vice president have a PA on their traveling medical teams. A friend of mine was on VP Al Gore's medical team. They know the PA's there so remind them they trust their lives to PA's when they are on the move.

Bruce Bair,  PAC,  The Family Doctor, NCJuly 02, 2009
Chapel Hill, NC

I would like to think the omissions in both presidential events were nothing more than an oversight. But I can not. Background analysis would show that the mind set of politicians is blurred by the term "assistant" in our title. No, I am not advocating a title change, but I agree that more pressure is going to have to be applied if we want to be found on White House health reform radar screen. I would consider a mass PA demonstration in Washington to drive our usefulness and inportant contribution to the American People home. The PR would be massive!
gec

Glen E.  Combs,  PAJuly 02, 2009
Mt. Airy, NC

As a primary care provider in a FQHC; I wonder what could be more cost effictive than maintaining and promoting the primary care PA profession. That was the origin...we are made for changing our healthcare system from disease based to preventative medicine.
Laurie

laurie dickinson,  PAC,  FQHCJuly 02, 2009
merced, California, CA

P.A.s in primary care has increased two fold as well as in all sub/surgical/specialties. clinically practicing PAs in primary care increased, primary care P.A. post-graduate residency increased. taught a post-graduate P.A. Residency program. comparable medical training post-baccleurate standardized, accredited, board of medicine licensed PA graduates, and a number of post-graduate P.A. Residency programs. taught a number of fmgs, med students, residents training in conjunction with P.A. students and FT/PT primary care PAs, P.A. residents, and P.A. preceptors comparable. murky the board of nursing scope or schisms in the nursing profession.

increased post-graduate applications several primary care P.A. Residency programs receive applications from clinically practicing PAs of all branches of medicine: sub/specialty/surgical/and general practice. experienced sub/specialty PAs across all sub/specialties. Loans should pay primary care, generalist medical education P.A. medical education in underserved regions. LOANS. Loans post-baccleurate P.A. medical education increased force increase P.A. subspecialization. Number of clinically practicing PAs in primary care increased, primary care P.A. post-graduate residency increased.

MD, A case for underserved PAs in Primary Care July 02, 2009

Isn't there a PA working at the White House? We have been there, in the past.

Ken KorberJuly 02, 2009
Chicago, IL

AAPA immediate past president Cynthia Booth Lord, MHS, PA-C, chalks up the Obama administration's "curious omission" of PAs to the fact that PAs always have been an understated group.

"Our work has always been that we are champions of patient-centered care," Lord says. "We haven't spent our careers caring about our name or our credentials; we're in the trenches.


The number of clinical practicing PAs choosing primary care has increased since Dr. Stead created the PA profession. 40% of PAs training as generalists in medicine pediatrics, family medicine, internal medicine, internal medicine subspecialty -- % of which is slightly lower than primary care %, etc.

Steve, PA-C  MedCentralJuly 02, 2009


     

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