winterallsummer Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 There are a lot of smart PAs here and many with strong political opinions regarding the future of the PA profession. As a pre-PA who begins interviewing for programs in September, I am curious as to what your opinions are on this topic. What do you see the PA profession looking like in 5, 10, and 20 years? Independent practitioners? Physician Associates or some other title? More respect? Better salary? Do you see any areas where you expect the advantages of a PA to go down? Stricter rules on changing professions? Lengthier training? All opinions are welcome and appreciated! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted August 3, 2011 Moderator Share Posted August 3, 2011 within 10 years: PA= Physician Associate avg program 3 yrs long and giving an ms within 15 years: required specialty exams for everything except primary care within 20 yrs: required 1 yr internship/residency for all new grads regardless of specialty choice. on completion of the internship a doctorate of pa practice in the field of xyz will be awarded. baylor is already going in this direction with their em residency. pa and np laws will be made equivalent in all 50 states with the exception of required supervision which will persist but decrease( and np's supervision will increase with independent practice limited) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneValgene Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 my thoughts: PAs will always be dependent practioners, but will have increasing scope and autonomy commensurate with experience... don't see the title changing anytime soon...just not practical... training definitely not getting any longer. if anything physician training will get shorter in the future. possible PA-DO bridge... salary will decrease as physician compensation will be cut as well but still will be a kick a$$ profession! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator ventana Posted August 3, 2011 Moderator Share Posted August 3, 2011 within 10 years:PA= Physician Associate within 20 yrs: required 1 yr internship/residency for all new grads regardless of specialty choice and please add independent billing (just like NP's) but god I hope it does not take that long.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted August 3, 2011 Moderator Share Posted August 3, 2011 Gene- there already is a pa-do bridge at lecom. First class started last month. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosier1 Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 I'm applying this year but as a 41 year old career changer this is my perspective. I think the nature of healthcare in this country is going to see a profound change. To combat the rising costs I see PA's and NP's becoming more prominent in family practice areas. I would not be surprised at all to see them become the primary care givers in this area. We are already seeing a decline in MD's going into family practice because the money just isn't there. There will most likely still be a need for some supervision but I also see this declining. Just look at the scope of what a PA in the military does. As a result of this greater responsibility I see a 2-3 year Masters program being the minimum followed by a 1 year residency. I honestly see MD's serving more of a specialist role. Someone the PA/NP refers the patient to for more complicated cases. I really think the AAPA needs to push this type of model and stop worrying about stepping on the AMA's toes. It's also my personal opinion that the Nursing lobby needs to refocus their efforts on the quality of the education for NP's. Lessen the focus on the nursing "fluff" and add more science and clinical time. It scares me to think that the only anatomy a NP had was during their undergrad and may not have even involved human cadavers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
latonj Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 What about internationally? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted August 3, 2011 Moderator Share Posted August 3, 2011 What about internationally? more acceptance of pa's. this is already happening with new pa programs in saudi arabia, canada, england, australia, south africa, etc Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cinntsp Posted August 3, 2011 Share Posted August 3, 2011 more acceptance of pa's. this is already happening with new pa programs in saudi arabia, canada, england, australia, south africa, etc Isn't the Australian program shutting down? I thought I read that they'll graduate their inaugural class and then that's it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CornellSPA Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 Good thoughts listed above PAs really have the speciality practice areas secured, and we are experiencing a huge explosion in the need for surgical PAs, there are few NPs in this field. NPs got on the primary care/retail medicine area strongly and quickly, and it will be hard for PAs to catch up, especially in the expanding retail arena (Minute clinic etc). Most of us want a change to "Associate" but the legislation will be too difficult. More and more hospitals will demand proof of skills (ie residency), especially for surgical sub=speciality and EM. Regardless, the future is strong. Most NYC hospitals are hiring new grads in surgery at $100,00 with great benefits. Its great news, especially with such a poor economic outlook! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andersenpa Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 Most of us want a change to "Associate" but the legislation will be too difficult. What makes you say this.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medman2007 Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 my prediction:PA's will become more oriented towards specialties, with less room to change specialties as residencies become par for the course. wages will fall with MD's wages. I agree with others, some good thoughts here. However, I've been hearing and reading about a forthcoming decline in wages for years now. Not only for PAs but NPs, CRNAs,etc. Obviously, generally speaking of course, it has not happened as averages across most specialties have increased. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andersenpa Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 implementation of health care reform is one of the major factors that could play into depressed or stagnant wages. Current health care reform means putting more patients on the insurer roll. Unless reform is made to reimbursement for procedures, pay ranges will probably not change drastically. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted August 4, 2011 Moderator Share Posted August 4, 2011 in the field of em we are actually looking at increased compensation in the next few yrs as many of our current self pay( no pay) pts will become eligible for medicaid/medicare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeneValgene Posted August 4, 2011 Share Posted August 4, 2011 Gene- there already is a pa-do bridge at lecom. First class started last month. i guess the future is now! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted August 4, 2011 Moderator Share Posted August 4, 2011 thats the idea.... we will all see how that pans out. medicaid/medicare pays less than cost in many situations. reimbursement will be what throws everyone. we currently get zero when someone doesn't pay their bill so even a partial payment is a profit compared to the current situation . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted August 5, 2011 Moderator Share Posted August 5, 2011 I think em and primary care(fp, im, ob, peds) will do as well or better than in previous yrs and most specialists will take a major hit. this is how it will even out. spine surgeons won't make 2 million/yr anymore. they will make 500k or less. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted August 5, 2011 Moderator Share Posted August 5, 2011 couldnt that be good for physician extenders... docs making less will want more PA's to expand thier reach? yup, docs will hire pa's instead of adding physician partners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted August 5, 2011 Moderator Share Posted August 5, 2011 pa independence is not the goal. the goal is an appropriate unencumbered scope of practice and recognition for the work we are already doing and are trained to do. the goal is parity with np's on every level but independent practice. hate to break this to you but pa's will never be able to be completely independent. more autonomous than 2011 certainly. maybe even as good as current NC regs(meeting with a physician for 30 min twice yearly to discuss the practice) but it won't get better than that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
medman2007 Posted August 5, 2011 Share Posted August 5, 2011 pa independence is not the goal. the goal is an appropriate unencumbered scope of practice and recognition for the work we are already doing and are trained to do.the goal is parity with np's on every level but independent practice. hate to break this to you but pa's will never be able to be completely independent. more autonomous than 2011 certainly. maybe even as good as current NC regs(meeting with a physician for 30 min twice yearly to discuss the practice) but it won't get better than that. Are these strong PA regs in NC due to more positive relations with BOM? Are other state PA orgs attempting to follow NC's path; basically emulating the template used in NC? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted August 5, 2011 Moderator Share Posted August 5, 2011 the pa profession started in NC. they have the oldest program and the most experience with us. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OpSite Posted August 6, 2011 Share Posted August 6, 2011 I'm applying this year but as a 41 year old career changer this is my perspective. I think the nature of healthcare in this country is going to see a profound change. To combat the rising costs I see PA's and NP's becoming more prominent in family practice areas. I would not be surprised at all to see them become the primary care givers in this area. We are already seeing a decline in MD's going into family practice because the money just isn't there. There will most likely still be a need for some supervision but I also see this declining. Just look at the scope of what a PA in the military does. As a result of this greater responsibility I see a 2-3 year Masters program being the minimum followed by a 1 year residency. I honestly see MD's serving more of a specialist role. Someone the PA/NP refers the patient to for more complicated cases. I really think the AAPA needs to push this type of model and stop worrying about stepping on the AMA's toes. It's also my personal opinion that the Nursing lobby needs to refocus their efforts on the quality of the education for NP's. Lessen the focus on the nursing "fluff" and add more science and clinical time. It scares me to think that the only anatomy a NP had was during their undergrad and may not have even involved human cadavers. As a nurse for 20 years and a PA-S currently, I couldn't agree more. Well said. As a wish-list item, though, I'd like to see PA title changed to MP (Medical Practitioner). The public would be more apt to recognize the difference in focus from nursing model to medical model. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joelseff Posted August 6, 2011 Share Posted August 6, 2011 As a nurse for 20 years and a PA-S currently, I couldn't agree more. Well said. As a wish-list item, though, I'd like to see PA title changed to MP (Medical Practitioner). The public would be more apt to recognize the difference in focus from nursing model to medical model. I've always liked MP!!! (Check my posts lol) but you thought Physician Associate got flak, try to lay MP on the AMA and the opposition... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OpSite Posted August 6, 2011 Share Posted August 6, 2011 I've always liked MP!!! (Check my posts lol) but you thought Physician Associate got flak, try to lay MP on the AMA and the opposition... I can see that, but it really shouldn't be that way. It's more fitting as a title in keeping with NP being a step above a nurse and MP a step below a doc.....which kind of puts them at the exact same level but with different learning models. I don't need the independent practice so there is no "competition" with an MD/DO. It's sad that the AMA can't see the benefits to this type of change. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted August 6, 2011 Moderator Share Posted August 6, 2011 it's associate or nothing. the only brand recognition we have right now is for "PA" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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