Physician Assistant Scope of Practice

PA-C

Physician Assistant-Certified. Mark of professional certification. Required

• Indication of achievement and maintenance of established levels of knowledge and clinical skills

• Widely recognized within the medical professions

AAPA

American Academy of Physician Assistants

• Located in Washington, D.C.

• Recognized as the voice for PAs in medical/surgical specialties

• All 50 states represented, with its own House of Delegates

ARC-PA

The Accreditation review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant

• Charged with accreditation of programs, in Atlanta, GA

• 330 accredited programs

• Approves and revises Accreditation Standards for PA Education (adopted by AMA 1971)

PAEA

The Physician Assistant Education Association

• Washington, D.C., established early 70s

• Only US organization representing PA programs

• Mission: To pursue excellence, foster faculty development, advance the body of knowledge that defines quality and education and patient-centered care, and promote diversity in all aspects of physician assistant education

NCCPA

National Commission on certification of Physician Assistants

• In Atlanta, GA, established 1974

• 1971 health manpower act: tripled the # of programs in 1972

• Assures that PA-Cs meet an established standard of knowledge and clinical skills upon practice

• Only credentialing org. for PAs in the US

PANCE

Physician Assistant National Certification Exam

• 300 questions. all MC

• $550

• Computer based, assessing general medical/surgical knowledge

• ARC-PA program…PANCE…PA-C

• Administered year round, every 10 years need recertified

PANRE

Physician Assistant National Recertification Exam

• 240 MC questions

Governing board for PAs

Under MD and DO boards

Primary supervision

Assumes full medical and responsibility for PAs

• Supervising Physician must countersign 100% of charts for first 12 moths post grad and new specialty

Scope of Practice

• Education and experience: is up to physician, but must follow the law

• State laws very per state

• Supervising physicians delegatory decisions: what you can/can’t do

• Facility policy: regulates what you can/can’t do

Procedures PAs can do

Veinpuncture, wound care, suturing, CPR, Ear irrigation, etc.

Procedures PAs cannot do

Independently bill or advertise, acupuncture, provide medical services outside of written agreements and misinterpret as a MD/DO

Current terminal degree of a PA?

Masters

NP vs. PA

• nursing model, and practice independently

• medical model, no practicing independently