Physician Assistants

Transcription

1 Physician Assistants

2 INTRODUCTIONS Colleen Schierholtz, BS Director of Admissions, OHSU PA Program Jess Pethtel, BS Admissions Assistant, OHSU PA Program

3 Goals for Today s Session Info on Physician Assistant (PA) Profession PA as a Future Career Path Requirements to Become a PA Q&A Opportunity

4 The Physician Assistant Profession

5 Ask yourself Do I enjoy helping people? Do I enjoy responsibility? Do I want to continue to learn? Do I want a challenging & rewarding career? Do I want to team with physicians?

6 If you answered YES to these questions, then a career as a physician assistant is definitely worth considering

7 What is a Physician Assistant? Physician Assistants (PAs) are professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. health Within the physician/pa relationship, PAs exercise autonomy in medical decision-making and provide a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services PAs are qualified by graduation from an accredited PA educational program and certification by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).

8 Historical Perspective the Physician Assistant Profession Profession began with the opening of programs in the mid-1960s In response to a shortage and maldistribution of primary care physicians As of 2013, over 95,000 PAs in clinical practice

9 Scope of Practice Oregon PAs... Elicit medical histories & perform physical exams Order & interpret diagnostic and laboratory tests Establish diagnosis Prescribe treatment Perform clinical & diagnostic procedures Assist/perform surgery

10 PA Practice Primary Care 31% Pediatric Subspecialties 1% Emergency Medicine 11% General Surgery 3% General Surgery & Surgical Subspecialties 23% Unknown 2% Internal Medicine Subspecialties 10% Other Specialties 19% AAPA Census Survey *Primary care includes family medicine with and without urgent care, general internal medicine, general pediatrics, and gynecology/obstetrics

11 Where PAs Practice Hospitals Group and multi-specialty practices Solo and single specialty practices Managed care Rural Health Clinics Migrant Health Clinics Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) Community Health Centers

12 National PA Salaries $105,000 $100,000 $95,000 $90,000 $85,000 $80,000 $75,000 $70,000 $65,000 $60,000 $55,000 $50,000 $60,358 $72,241 $68,757 $78,257 $58,297 $63,168$65,641 $57,982 $89,897 $84,396 $76,232 $71,004 $95,000 $80,107 $98,000 $84,000 All PAs New Grads

13 Future Employment Trends The Bureau of Labor Statistics has consistently ranked PA profession as one of the fastest growing professions in the country. Projected 38% employment increase expected during 10 year period Forbes Magazine recently ranked Physician Assistant Studies as the best master s degree for jobs. PAs are part of the solution to help ensure access to care for all patient populations. Including the prospects of an aging population (who will need more healthcare services) and the fact that more people are expected to seek care due to the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

14 PA Licensing A PA seeking licensure in Oregon must: be a graduate of accredited program (ARC-PA) pass the Physician Assistant National Certification Exam (PANCE) administered by the NCCPA Submit license application to the Oregon Medical Board (OMB) Identify supervising physician, negotiate/sign practice agreement directly with supervising physician, then submit copy to the OMB

15 Planning Your Career as a Physician Assistant

16 What can you do now to prepare for a future as a PA? Science and math courses designed to prepare you for college Take a health professions exploration course Consider volunteering nursing homes, hospitals, clinics, etc. Take a CPR course

17 What can you do during college to prepare academically? Academic Preparation Major Consider Biology, Psychology, Sciences Take courses in Biology, Chemistry, other Natural Sciences; level of BCP courses Is a Pre-PA curriculum offered? Available at OSU, UofO, PSU, Oregon Community Colleges (PCC, MHCC, Chemeketa) Specific Requirements of PA Programs Health Professions Advisor Health Professions Clubs/Groups

18 PA schools Health Care Experience Requirement What have you already done? Volunteer or Paid Experience Direct, Hands-on Patient Care or Health Care Related How does a prospective applicant gain experience?

19 What Can You Do Now to Begin Gaining Health Care Experience? Health Care Experience local hospitals, clinics, health events Opportunities to volunteer through the American Red Cross, American Heart Association, Others Plan to gain hands-on, direct patient care experience during summer and other break times Consider obtaining certification First aid, CPR (any age) First Responder (18+ yrs) EMT-B (18+) CNA

20 Examples of Health Care Experience Paramedic Emergency Medical Technician Certified Nursing Assistant Phlebotomist Medical Assistant Medical Technologist OR/Surgery Tech ER Tech Lab Assistant Research Assistant Registered Nurse Community Health Worker/Peace Corps

21 Typically PA applicants, will complete their bachelor s degree then take a year or two to gain additional health care experience. However, if you begin gaining experience during high school and college, then you ll be closer to applying soon after college graduation.

22 PA Programs

23 Accredited PA Programs Number of PA programs '91 '93 '95 '97 '99 '01 '03 '05 '07 '09 '11 '13 Source: PAEA 27th Annual Report

24 programs in 44 states; 35% of all programs are in NY, PA, FL and CA. Geographic Distribution of Programs 3 26th PAEA Annual Report - Nov 2010

25 Physician Assistant Programs By Type of Sponsoring Institution Programs located at Medical Schools Medical Centers Hospitals Two- and Four-Year Colleges & Universities Interservice Program (military)

26 PA Profession Exploration explorehealthcareers.org American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) PA Literature Books, Journals, Publications What are the hot topics in the profession Shadow Physician Assistants OHSU Opportunities Center for Diversity & Inclusion

27 A Typical Physician Assistant Program

28 Typical Physician Assistant Program Curriculum Overview 12-month didactic phase 14-month clinical phase

29 Didactic Year Curriculum Basic Sciences Gross Anatomy, Imaging & Embryology, Physiology, Neuroanatomy Clinical Medicine Physical Examination Lecture Series, Specialties of Medicine Pharmacotherapeutics, Lab Medicine Problem Based Learning Clinical Practicum mentoring Behavioral Medicine

30 Clinical Phase Curriculum Inpatient Medicine Community Medicine Pediatrics Women s Health Care Emergency Medicine General Surgery Preceptorship in Primary Care Elective Rotations Reflecting Student s Interests

31 Consider the following before selecting a PA program Degree offered Curriculum Location of rotations PANCE results Faculty Students Resources Rankings

32 Questions & Answers