natl assoc. of pa's...about time....

[EMEDPA]

as I mentioned above I sent this link to all my pa friends and colleagues. here is one response I got back:
I like their mission statement a lot. I'd be very interested to see
how they choose to make an impact. The time is really right to be
trumpeting what we do - massive uninsured population, few doctors going into
primary care, and the PA profession consistantly ranked near the top
for job growth and salary growth potential. And still people don't know
what we do! It's absurd. Our various organizations should be proudly
trumpeting the services we provide rather than not-so-vaguely
appologizing for us being on staff.

[primadonna22274]

Good work guys! Nice site. Just a nit-picky thing though: on the "About Us" page (I think it was that page), the infamous "s" shows up..."Physicians Assistants". Let's fix that.
Thanks. I'll check back in a week or so to see if the membership page is up & running.
Lisa

[EMEDPA]

well-there's 11 new members in 12 hrs. that's 22/day...not too bad....that's over a thousand in 2 months, 6000 by the end of the yr.....ok, maybe a little optimistic but certainly a good start.....

[PAMidge]

Congratulations to the founders, that's wonderful that you guys can take the time to fill those holes that I (we) see within the AAPA.

EMEDPA - thank you for the perspective. It is hard to know what the dynamics of the AAPA has been in the past, that's why I ask it's necessity, especially when everyone here is clearly all for this new organization.





Since you [founders] seem to be marketing oriented, I want to give my 2 cents in things that I want to see changed (or help to change if you guys want some support).

1. Have Most (not all) drug commercials say "healthcare professional" on medication commercials instead of "ask your doctor".


2. Create a universal education pamphlet that NAPA members can receive, and distribute free of charge, educating everyone on the PA profession. Again, the idea is Universal - this is something I intended on doing at my local level, but really doesn't mean anything if 65,000 other PAs are preaching something slightly different.



Again, understand I'm not questioning the organization, I think it's wonderful. I just wanted to be sure that this was created as an adjunct to the AAPA, not a replacement.


Plus, I really don't want to pay $150 for another membership :-P

[fireguy]

I am in. And I will spread teh work with my program

Ben. UTexas Southwestern

[bsady]

Congratulations to the founders, that's wonderful that you guys can take the time to fill those holes that I (we) see within the AAPA.

EMEDPA - thank you for the perspective. It is hard to know what the dynamics of the AAPA has been in the past, that's why I ask it's necessity, especially when everyone here is clearly all for this new organization.





Since you [founders] seem to be marketing oriented, I want to give my 2 cents in things that I want to see changed (or help to change if you guys want some support).

1. Have Most (not all) drug commercials say "healthcare professional" on medication commercials instead of "ask your doctor".


2. Create a universal education pamphlet that NAPA members can receive, and distribute free of charge, educating everyone on the PA profession. Again, the idea is Universal - this is something I intended on doing at my local level, but really doesn't mean anything if 65,000 other PAs are preaching something slightly different.



Again, understand I'm not questioning the organization, I think it's wonderful. I just wanted to be sure that this was created as an adjunct to the AAPA, not a replacement.


Plus, I really don't want to pay $150 for another membership


We are already working on the pharm co. issue. We mentioned that to three of the big pharm companies over a year ago. We are going to make a formal letter in the near future to bring this to the attention of the right people. The brochure is a great idea and we can easily add that to the package that all members will receive. As for not wanting to pay an extra $150, myself and the other founder are literally spending thousands out of our own pockets to get this up and running. I don't think 41 cents each day is too much to ask to support the work we will be doing. Maybe skip one starbuck's per week

[jmj11]

I am the other founder. Thank you all for your support. We are working hard, and it will be a long journey. We have some great ideas and many of you have offered to help. We would like to have you all involved. This is our profession and there is a lot of work to do. Our website is almost finished and we are tying up a few lose ends. We should be taking membership in the next few days. Please check back to the membership page and you will see when the site is accepting membership. We will also make an announcement when we are open for membership.

I really like this idea and your mission statement, pure and simple and what most PAs want. I will spread the word (on the other PA forums) and locally. I am very interested in joining as soon as our domestic spending feeze is lifted (paying off Christmas and taking our kids to Egypt bills).

I am also willing to volunteer in anyway that I can.

Now one question, is how much energy do you have to sustain this organization until it reaches critical mass? I was a charter member of the American College of Clinicians. Although their mission statement is a little different (including NPs and PAs as one group to increase the power) it also had some of the same goals. It was started by good people with good intentions. Indeed, they did have one national advertisement and they have been working hard on the "Ask you doctor" issue. I don't know if they have lost any steam, but I had not heard much from them and have let my membership lapse. Maybe they are doing great. I know that your focus is PAs but any other differences? Do you see your self working together with them on marketing projects?

My general comment about the AAPA and the need for an organization such as yours is the following:

Having been a PA for almost 25 years, I've follow the AAPA from being a grass-roots PA promoting organization to a for-profit (not legally but in reality) PA mega business, who's customers are PAs. PAs buy their products like any customer in Wal-Mart buying things. We buy their CME. We buy their promotional booklets. We buy their membership and for a long time we bought their service to bank our CME. We buy AAPA credit cards, tee shirts, tours, etc.. Like any business, their goal (as an organization) is self-sustaining and profitability. I think along the way they lost their vision of promoting the PA profession for the sake of the profession.

The other thing I noticed (which I hope is changing with the AAPA) is that part of their business vision was really keeping the PAs subordinate to the physicians for fears of doctors not being happy. It is like a parent telling their children that “You’re nice, even good kids . . . but we know that you’re not the sharpest tools in the shed. So you will always be inferior to the other kids.”

We need an organization that can energize and boldly re-make the PAs own professional self esteem. We need an organization that promotes PA confidence and capabilities, for example PA-owned clinics, PA functioning at any level (if they are competent to). We should remain respectful to the other medical team members, but yield any of our own self-respect in fear of them.

So, how can you remain self-sustaining and keep on target?

As for now, you have my vote, respect and willing hands to help in any way that I can.

Mike

[maryfran123]

Wishes and dreams really do come true!!!!!!!
I've been hoping, wishing, and dreaming about something like this for most of my 20yr PA career.
Gave up hope and my AAPA membership long ago in large part because of their lack of attention to this issue.

I'm in!!!

[Sonysmiles123]

I am barely a PA student because I am still going through the interview process, but I appreciate forums such as this to find out about issues that are affecting our careers. I am new to learning about the AAPA and the NAPA, so information I find on this forum is highly valuable. Thank you to all you PAs who are active in your careers, making change, and being such a good role model to future PAs. I believe it is truly ppl like you who make the PA profession what it has become; health care professionals who are caring, determined, visionary, motivated, effective, highly competent in patient care, and not merely just "assistants."

[EMEDPA]

just got another response from a former classmate:

this doesn't look very politically correct....I like that. count me in.

[bsady]

just got another response from a former classmate:

this doesn't look very politically correct....I like that. count me in.

I like it...how about this
"PAs..sicker in the head then their patients...he he he"
Sorry its late and I'm delerious..

[rikpac]

Hey, did you all see who is on the Board of Advisors? Banuchi! If he's part of this, then count me in. He has been a great asset to the PA profession and he's credible.

[Noreaster]

This is a great idea and I will see if I can get my work to pay for my membership (likely, they will).
I grew up in a household, where a statement was often said,
"if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself."
Well done!!!

One tiny little thing: the picture on the site... who's the PA? The sort of doctor-looking dude, or the MA-looking female???
It would be cool to see a very non-ambiguous picture. (just an honest gut response from my first impression)

[PACPhD]

This is a great idea and I will see if I can get my work to pay for my membership (likely, they will).
I grew up in a household, where a statement was often said,
"if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself."
Well done!!!

One tiny little thing: the picture on the site... who's the PA? The sort of doctor-looking dude, or the MA-looking female???
It would be cool to see a very non-ambiguous picture. (just an honest gut response from my first impression)

Sorry but we have been putting our efforts into getting the site running, getting the word out, taking on advisors, etc. Our web designer (who is exceptional) just grabbed a few stock photos. We will gradually be upgrading and improving the site. We want real PA photos on it. We will even ask for everyone to send in photos and we can pick some out. Hey, it was either that picture or a basket of kittens.

[themadmedic]

What kind of response, if any have you had from the AAPA thus far?