American Academy of Physician Assistants

1. American Academy of Physician Assistants Patrick Killeen November 5, 2010

2. Primer on PAs Education and training • PAs are graduates of master’s degree-level two- or three-year programs. • There are currently more than 140 PA programs in the U.S. Licensing and certification • PAs are certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) and licensed by states.

3. Some history… • The PA profession emerged in the mid-1960s as a way to increase access to care. • The first PAs were former medical corpsmen who wanted to use their medical skills in civilian life.

4. PA Practice Physician assistants… • conduct physical exams • diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries • order, perform and interpret tests • counsel on preventive health care • assist in surgery • write prescriptions

5. Physician-PA relationship • PAs are licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. • Responsibilities depend on the type of practice, PA’s specific training and experience, physician delegation, facility policy and state laws. • PAs exercise autonomy in medical decision-making within the physician-PA relationship.

6. Where are PAs found? • All 50 states, plus the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, American Samoa and the United States Virgin Islands have laws or regulations authorizing PA practice. • PAs are authorized to prescribe in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, American Samoa and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

7. PA Outlook • The PA profession is growing fast. • The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that the number of PA jobs will increase 27 percent between 2006 and 2016. • There are currently more than 75,000 clinically practicing PAs in the U.S. • Growth means more utilization of ultrasound by PAs is likely

8. PAs and Ultrasound • PAs are found in nearly every medical specialty. Specialties where ultrasound might be used include: • Family/general medicine • General surgery • Cardiology • Orthopedics • Cardiovascular/cardiothoracic surgery • Neurology • Ob/gyn • Urology

9. PAs and Ultrasound • Ultrasound is a useful diagnostic tool for PAs, as it does not utilize radiation and therefore carries little risk. • PAs are eligible to practice in most environments where ultrasound would be utilized. • CME courses for PAs regularly include ultrasound-related topics.

10. PAs and Ultrasound • AIUM has identified PAs as emerging users of point-of-care ultrasound. • The American Association of PAs in Obstetrics and Gynecology conducted a member survey, and the results showed ultrasound among the most commonly performed procedure.

11. PAs and Ultrasound • U.S. Army PAs have utilized ultrasound in combat zones. In January 2009, nine portable ultrasound machines were sent to Afghanistan. • Industry is taking notice: General Electric in 2009 released the Vscan handheld ultrasound device. GE called primary care physicians and PAs the primary market for the Vscan, as it allows providers to utilize ultrasound without sending patients to a specialist or other location. (Associated Press, 10/09)

12. PAs and Ultrasound • A 2002 study of ultrasound-assisted percutaneous liver biopsy concluded that the procedure can be safely and effectively performed by a trained physician assistant. (American Journal of Gastroenterology, 2002)

13. PAs and Ultrasound • Because PAs have a very patient-centered focus and are members of physician-directed teams, PAs will likely find ultrasound increasingly important as it is incorporated into new areas of practice • The profession is in strong support of accessible, patient centered, safe and effective health care that is cost effective and provided by integrated teams

14. American Academy of Physician Assistants Patrick Killeen, President November 5, 2010