PA as a Profession Final

What are the two ways to obtain a PA education?

What are the two ways to obtain a PA education?

Accelerated PA program

Traditional 4+2 or 3

What must be done before applying to a PA school (traditional route)?

Bachelor’s degree with prerequisites and then apply to ARC-PA accredited PA program

How many healthcare hours are required at DSU?

500 hours

What counts as direct patient care hours?

shadowing a PA, PCA, EMT, medical assistant, providing care for patients

What degree do you have when you graduate from ARC-PA accredited PA program?

Master’s degree

How many hours hours come with graduating from an accredited program?

about 2,000 clinical hours of education

What does PANCE stand for?

Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam

What test must you pass to become a PA and what is your title after passing?

PANCE, PA-C

Who administers the PANCE?

NCCPA (National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants)

What are the topic areas on the PANCE?

all of the body systems, history, lab studies, diagnosis, etc.

What is the system with the highest amount of information on the PANCE?

cardiovascular

How many questions are on the PANCE and what is the breakdown of them?

300 questions

5 blocks of 60 questions

How many attempts does one get to pass the PANCE?

6 attempts with 90 days in between

What must be done after passing the PANCE before practicing?

must obtain license to practice in the state you wish to practice

What is the Certificate of Added Qualifications (CAQ)?

voluntary credential that certified PA’s can earn in certain specialties

How do you earn CAQ?

differs by specialty, must have a certain amount of hours and years of experience, CME credits

What is the cost of CAQ?

$350

How often do PA’s have recertification and new CME credits?

2 year cycles

Why is recertification required?

to keep up to date with new and updated medical information

What is the recertification maintenance fee?

$180

How many CME credits are required per cycle?

100 credits

How many CME credits must be Category 1?

50 credits

Category 1 credits

self assessment care, PI-CME

Category 2 credits

reading medical journals, precepting students, attending meetings

What is the PANRE?

Physician Assistant National Recertifying Exam

How often does one have to take the PANRE?

every 10 years, may be taken in the 9th year

What is the format of the PANRE?

240 multiple-choice questions - 4 blocks of 60 questions

all PA knowledge, core medical knowledge, labs, diagnosis, intervention, interpreting lab results

How many total attempts do you get at the PANRE?

4, 90 days in between

What is the PANRE-LA?

at home option

12 quarters-best 8 are scored

What organization handles recerification?

NCCPA

What are PA residencies and fellowships?

advanced training after PA school

How long are PA residencies and fellowships?

12-18 months, clinical and didactic education

Do fellowships have to be accredited by ARC-PA?

no

What is the APPAP?

Association of postgraduate PA programs, most fellowship programs can be found on this site

What are the prerequisites of the APPAP?

experience in past, administrative personnel,

What and when was the first PA residency program in surgery?

Montefiore Medical Center- 1973

Who are PAs certified by?

NCCPA

Where is the scope of practice decided?

practice level

Where is the scope of practice determined in institutions?

healthcare facilities- hospitals, nursing homes, surgical centers

PAs must request clinical privileges and receive approval from medical staff

defines scope of practice for PAs at that institution

Can a PA practice medicine outside of their supervising physician?

No, must practice with supervising physician, written agreement

changing in some states due to OTP

What are the roles and responsibilities of a PA?

see patients

make diagnoses

interpret labs/tests

examine

What is the AAPA and what do they do?

American Academy of PAs (JAPPA journal)

ensure the professional growth, personal excellence, and recognition of PAs

What is the PSPA and what do they do?

Pennsylvania Society of Physician Assistants

enhance quality medical care

provide loyal honest service

promote professionalism

promote understanding of PA as a profession

What is the NCCPA and what do they do?

National Commission of Certification of Physician Assistants

only certifying organization for PAs in US

What is the PAEA and what do they do?

PA Education Association

represent PA educational programs

all accredited PA programs are apart of this

What is the ARC-PA and what do they do?

Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant

accredit PA programs

define the standards of PA education and standards

Why is there discussion over name change of PAs?

some think that the term does not acknowledge the work that a PA does

Pros and cons of name change?

Pros

better fit what a PA does

less confusion from patients

seen as a mid level provider

Cons

we’ve had the name for 40 years

already have an excellent representation

associate also does not describe the job of a PA

What are medical corpsman?

enlisted medical specialist , provide direct support

Basis for PA profession from military?

Duke's Eugene Stead Jr., MD, saw the value in their military medical training, and knew it could help alleviate the primary care shortage

Opportunities for PAs in the military?

civilians, IPAP, ROTC, Health Professions Scholarship Program, enlisting post PA training

What are the military branches where PAs can work?

Army, Navy, Space Force, Veterans Affairs

What is the IPAP?

Interservice Physician Assistant Program- military PA program

pays for whatever rank they previously had

Who was the first to offer the first master’s degree for PA training?

Duke University

What degree is awarded at DSU?

MSPAS

Why should a PA get a doctoral degree?

slightly higher salary, opportunity for leadership positions, more clinical knowledge, specialized opportunity, attractive job candidate

Why do some think PA’s should have a doctoral degree?

higher education and keeping up with other professions

Cons of doctoral degrees for PAs?

additional time, not much of an income change, other ways to become more confident in job

Should PA’s be required to obtain a doctoral degree?

no, people would instead choose to go to med school

What does OTP stand for?

Optimal team practice

What is OTP for PAs?

healthcare professionals working together without constraints, PAs have more responsibility

Why is OTP being considered?

reduce administrative burdens on PAs

Pros and cons of OTP?

Pros

prevent medical errors, PAs can work to full potential, efficiency, higher income

Cons

more responsibility, less support, regulatory requirements