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Any Progress at 2015 Conference?


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**Several resolutions were put forward to shift language of supervision to collaboration within AAPA policy that were carried.

**There is a signifigant lobbying push this year to allow PA's to provide hospice with medicare at the national legislative level

** A resolution was moved to the advocay work group to identify to insurance companies that PA's work in ALL specialties of medicne and surgery and should be listed as such as individuals providers in their own right in the provider directories.

 

The new president-elect recently provided expert testimony in the OH senate that will get PAs 5 of the 6 key elements of practice. It has moved out of the senate and moved to the house where she will speak again concerning the issue.

 

These are just a few off the top of my head. There has also been a signifigant push this year for more engagement with the student academy to engage the ever growing student body in professional advocacy. With several of the originaizations like PAEA now electing a student to their BODs for the first time this year; with over 15K current students that is a big step for further professional advocacy.

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Guest Paula

DId you hear anything about the model state legislation revision?  It was to be unveiled at AAPA and available in early June.  I need to find out ASAP.

 

Anyone there that heard the presentation or was at the "unveiling"? 

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  • Moderator

Here's a link to the file with resolutions passed. 

 

https://www.aapa.org/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=2147485235  hope this works.

 

I must have missed the model legislation "unveiling".  I'd like to see it.

 

 

A candidate must have accumulated at least three distinct years of experience
in the past five years in at least two of the following major areas of
professional involvement. This experience requirement will be waived for
currently sitting AAPA board members who choose to run for a subsequent
term of office.
i.
An AAPA or constituent organization officer, board member, committee, council, commission, work group, task force chair.
ii.
A delegate or alternate to the AAPA House of Delegates.
iii.
A board member, trustee, or committee chair of the PA Foundation, Society for the Preservation of Physician Assistant History, American Academy of Physician Assistants Political Action Committee, Physician Assistant Education Association or National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.
iv.
AAPA board appointee.
 
 
sorry didn't paste well - but striking this section is EXCELLENT - stops the nepotisim/favoritism that does not benefit anyone except the inner circle....
 
 
***************
this is the section on name
 

Physician Associate or Physician Assistant as the Title of the PA Profession

2015

-B-10 Resolved

Amend policy HP-3100.1.1 as follows:

The AAPA recognizes that “physician assistant” OR “PHYSICIAN ASSOCIATE” MAY BE USED

as the official title for the PA profession.

Rationale/Justification

AAPA has already set the precedent with the publication: “America Necesita Asociados

Medicos”. The

translation of Asociado Medico is literally: Associate Physician. Our Spanish-speaking colleagues have got it right and AAPA has endorsed that title.

A growing number of PAs wish to call themselves Physician Associate or just PA, and we need the AAPA to lead us into the 21stcentury. “Assistant” does not adequately describe our function in medicine. We practice autonomously, with the collaboration and assistance of a Physician, when necessary. If we are in the office, without a physician, we are assisting no one! WE ARE THE PROVIDER, not the Medical Assistant. The word “assistant” is derogatory and implies subservience. Ultimately, the term “assistant” is confusing to patients, who may believe they are being treated by an individual with training that is insufficient, as the individual is only qualified to “assist.”AAPA has begun the process of focusing on the title “PA” instead changing

the Assistant name. This new campaign is an acknowledgement of the concept that we do not want to be associated

At its inception, our profession was called the Physician Associate. It is possible that in 30 years, the profession will be called Physician Associate. Physician Assistant can be a historical name for the Physician Assistant History Society (which would then be called the Physician Associate History Society).

The FAPA delegation would like to be a force for change, but using these three names for the same profession for the next 20 years, is a good compromise for all involved, even the traditionalists. Every State can slowly adopt as desired by the PAs within that State.

To clarify, this resolution will not impact the current title of our organization: American Academy of Physician Assistants. A change in the organizational title of AAPA would require an Articles of Incorporation change that would need to be approved by the Board of Directors.

 

 

**************************************************

 

and for the education. doctorate discussion....

 

 

Clinical Doctorate for PAs

2015

-B-12 Resolved

AAPA supports that PA programs that require over 120 credit hours should confer a clinical doctorate as the degree awarded.

Rationale/Justification

The current masters-level PA program requires 120 credit hours to fulfill completion of the standard curriculum. Other masters level medical degree programs typically require approximately 30-50 credits to qualify for this degree. The PA profession is the only graduate medical profession that does not award a doctorate degree for the high number of credit hours it demands of its students.

Other medical professions vary in the amount of credit hours required to obtain a clinical doctorate. A Doctor of Podiatry program requires approximately 90 credit hours. A Doctor of Physical Therapy also requires approximately 90 credit hours. The Doctor of Pharmacy

(PharmD) curriculum requires in the range of 130-150 credits. The Doctor of Nurse Practitioner requires between 30-50 credits.

The purpose of this resolution is to support the granting of a clinical doctorate to future PA students. A PA clinical doctoral program should not cost more to confer as the requirement for the doctorate can be met with current ARC-PA standards.

23

24

Reference:

1. “A PA Doctorate Discussion” by Gregory Davenport, 2014

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A candidate must have accumulated at least three distinct years of experience
in the past five years in at least two of the following major areas of
professional involvement. This experience requirement will be waived for
currently sitting AAPA board members who choose to run for a subsequent
term of office.
i.
An AAPA or constituent organization officer, board member, committee, council, commission, work group, task force chair.
ii.
A delegate or alternate to the AAPA House of Delegates.
iii.
A board member, trustee, or committee chair of the PA Foundation, Society for the Preservation of Physician Assistant History, American Academy of Physician Assistants Political Action Committee, Physician Assistant Education Association or National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.
iv.
AAPA board appointee.
 
 
sorry didn't paste well - but striking this section is EXCELLENT - stops the nepotisim/favoritism that does not benefit anyone except the inner circle....
 
 
***************
this is the section on name
 

Physician Associate or Physician Assistant as the Title of the PA Profession

2015

-B-10 Resolved

Amend policy HP-3100.1.1 as follows:

The AAPA recognizes that “physician assistant” OR “PHYSICIAN ASSOCIATE” MAY BE USED

as the official title for the PA profession.

Rationale/Justification

AAPA has already set the precedent with the publication: “America Necesita Asociados

Medicos”. The

translation of Asociado Medico is literally: Associate Physician. Our Spanish-speaking colleagues have got it right and AAPA has endorsed that title.

A growing number of PAs wish to call themselves Physician Associate or just PA, and we need the AAPA to lead us into the 21stcentury. “Assistant” does not adequately describe our function in medicine. We practice autonomously, with the collaboration and assistance of a Physician, when necessary. If we are in the office, without a physician, we are assisting no one! WE ARE THE PROVIDER, not the Medical Assistant. The word “assistant” is derogatory and implies subservience. Ultimately, the term “assistant” is confusing to patients, who may believe they are being treated by an individual with training that is insufficient, as the individual is only qualified to “assist.”AAPA has begun the process of focusing on the title “PA” instead changing

the Assistant name. This new campaign is an acknowledgement of the concept that we do not want to be associated

At its inception, our profession was called the Physician Associate. It is possible that in 30 years, the profession will be called Physician Associate. Physician Assistant can be a historical name for the Physician Assistant History Society (which would then be called the Physician Associate History Society).

The FAPA delegation would like to be a force for change, but using these three names for the same profession for the next 20 years, is a good compromise for all involved, even the traditionalists. Every State can slowly adopt as desired by the PAs within that State.

To clarify, this resolution will not impact the current title of our organization: American Academy of Physician Assistants. A change in the organizational title of AAPA would require an Articles of Incorporation change that would need to be approved by the Board of Directors.

 

 

**************************************************

 

and for the education. doctorate discussion....

 

 

Clinical Doctorate for PAs

2015

-B-12 Resolved

AAPA supports that PA programs that require over 120 credit hours should confer a clinical doctorate as the degree awarded.

Rationale/Justification

The current masters-level PA program requires 120 credit hours to fulfill completion of the standard curriculum. Other masters level medical degree programs typically require approximately 30-50 credits to qualify for this degree. The PA profession is the only graduate medical profession that does not award a doctorate degree for the high number of credit hours it demands of its students.

Other medical professions vary in the amount of credit hours required to obtain a clinical doctorate. A Doctor of Podiatry program requires approximately 90 credit hours. A Doctor of Physical Therapy also requires approximately 90 credit hours. The Doctor of Pharmacy

(PharmD) curriculum requires in the range of 130-150 credits. The Doctor of Nurse Practitioner requires between 30-50 credits.

The purpose of this resolution is to support the granting of a clinical doctorate to future PA students. A PA clinical doctoral program should not cost more to confer as the requirement for the doctorate can be met with current ARC-PA standards.

23

24

Reference:

1. “A PA Doctorate Discussion” by Gregory Davenport, 2014

 

 

 

Paula,  Where does it say or imply that we can use the word  "associate"

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Can anyone tell me if the AAPA has enough influential power to make any of these things happen in the next 5 years? Will they reach out to schools and suggest to offer a doctorate degree instead of masters without modifying the curriculum and/or #credits? Also, all the PA schools around my area are only around 100, not 120, but it should still be a doctorate degree. I'm interested to see how the name change really goes. All of this makes me happy, but will it become reality or just a proposal? I wonder what MDs think of this.

 

edit: I read a little bit further into the details of what was posted and it doesn't sound like they're too optimistic about the entry-level doctorate degree for PAs.

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With at least these token changes, which may become real, I think it is time for all of us outsiders to re-join the AAPA as I did this week.  We should make the numbers swell and hold their feet to the fire that they are on the same page as us rank-n-file, in the trenches PAs. Let’s give them our full support. If they fail to meet our expectation there could be a mass exodus in the future. But I appreciate the fact that it appears that at least someone is listening for the first time.

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Guest Paula

State laws do not change with policy change at AAPA or passing of resolutions, BUT it does show that AAPA is supporting these changes and having these documents can be used in support of state legislation.

 

State PA chapters now have a job ahead of them to determine when and how to approach the legal changes.

 

BTW:  what do you all  think of the model state legislation? 

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Will they reach out to schools and suggest to offer a doctorate degree instead of masters without modifying the curriculum and/or #credits?

This is essentially impossible. You would have to explain to the board, the chancellor and he president how a curriculum that culminated in master degree for 20 years is suddenly worth a doctoral degree.

 

Because some society said so won't be an acceptable answer.

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This is essentially impossible. You would have to explain to the board, the chancellor and he president how a curriculum that culminated in master degree for 20 years is suddenly worth a doctoral degree.

 

Because some society said so won't be an acceptable answer.

 

More to the point, ARC-PA standards specify that the program must grant a master's degree. No wiggle room to accredit a doctoral program. So schools have no interest in creating a doctorate as the "actual" PA program.

 

Even if universities wanted to grant a clinical doctorate, under existing standards, the doctorate would not be an accredited ARC-PA program.

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So how is AAPA affiliated with ARC-PA? If ARC-PA standards are changed to grant a Doctorate will the programs be required to grant that degree? Is the AAPA resolution really a step in the right direction or do they know that it's meaningless without the approval of ARC-PA?

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I am thinking this has the potential to be a cascading effect over time.

Similar to the move to a masters, there will be a march to a doctorate.

I am assuming that several of the 'top' programs already have some pathway developed to a doctorate, whether it is on site or a combination of on and off site at some point.

Then it will be a matter of putting it into action.

The ARC-PA will likely start moving in that direction also, not necessarily mandating but overt and covert actions and assessments that will indicate the direction.

This is happening in the areas of research and interprofessional education currently.

While there will be pushback from institutions that have been granting a masters for some time, in the end, they will tumble also.

Most institutions went from granting a bachelors for 30+ years and then transitioned to the masters. Majority of that move occurred over the course of about 5 years.

Just wait for the first program to announce and then start counting the years. Maybe the transition will happen even faster.

Likely will see tuition rise but would be interesting to compare tuition for DNP, PharmD and DPT to current tuition for PA masters. I have seen some institutions where cost is similar.

GB PA-C

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Wait. Is AAPA in support of the doctorate or not?

I believe there was a proposal made based on Dr Daveneport's report. word at the conference was that it was passed over in the HOD with minimal discussion. anyone who knows differently please post here. perhaps someone should contact Ann Davis at the aapa(?)

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More to the point, ARC-PA standards specify that the program must grant a master's degree. No wiggle room to accredit a doctoral program. So schools have no interest in creating a doctorate as the "actual" PA program.

 

Even if universities wanted to grant a clinical doctorate, under existing standards, the doctorate would not be an accredited ARC-PA program.

Why?? Doctorates are sexy!! Don't schools want to be sexy?! Sexy attracts people, people pay money for the diploma.. :)
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Guest Paula

For Clarification Purposes:

 

The resolution to allow PAs to use the term Physician Associate was voted down at the HOD, per a clarification from another PA discussion group.  So I don't want to be the one who started the rumor from misunderstanding the HOD resolutions and which ones were passed.  

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