Will International Restrictions Get Worse Or Better?

[Guest aerinsol]

Do you think that in the next decade more countries will be like Ireland, Australia, and Canada, and start welcoming PAs, or do you think that it will become even harder to do international work outside of Anglophone countries?

[roman6163]

Hopefully, this initial P.A. pilot program starting up in Australia will show the medical community there that P.A.'s are a valuable resource to have in their society.

 

The pay in the Australian pilot program isn't the greatest ($75K plus a 17.5% "holiday load".... whatever that means) but it would be a nice change of pace for many of us who want to shake up our career options.

[Jambi]

($75K plus a 17.5% "holiday load".... whatever that means)

 

And if that 75K AUS then that'll exchange out to just under 70k USD

[andersenpa]

It's a strong model, I think it will appeal to the financial aspects. THe big hurdle will be the prejudices of physicians and nurses, something we in the US are all too familiar with.

[EMEDPA]

Hopefully, this initial P.A. pilot program starting up in Australia will show the medical community there that P.A.'s are a valuable resource to have in their society.

 

The pay in the Australian pilot program isn't the greatest ($75K plus a 17.5% "holiday load".... whatever that means) but it would be a nice change of pace for many of us who want to shake up our career options.

 

there are a lot of other perks involved beyond financial. I was offered a spot outside of the interview process( as were all the pa's in my group) as one of the docs running the show there is an em/fp doc in my group. there are some housing/transportation/airfare breaks as well. most of the current positions however are teaching slots with minimal clinical activity....and it is queensland, their equivalent of texas or arizona weather wise....which is why I said no....I really don't want 350 days of sunshine/yr with an avg temp>80.

I just read your link...this is different than the program I was offered a spot in 2 yrs ago...that program is a teaching slot at the university pa program in queensland and pays 80k+ full bennies.

[jmj11]

It will very slowly get better.Ruth Ballweg, PA-C, director of the U of Wash Medex program (for many years) has been assigned (I think by the AAPA) as an International Liaison for promoting the PA concept internationally. I met with her last spring and discussed this. She has gone to one international meeting (where countries discussed the licensing of medical professionals). Most countries were PA naive. She was going to another meeting of the same group this year in Dubai. She is optimistic that eventually the PA concept will have better international recognition.

 

Two weeks ago I was having the discussion about the PA concept in Kathmandu with the director of a Nepalese rural health NGO. I was a little disappointed that although they have worked with PAs twice before that their concept was quite limited (based on our professional name they assume that we are the same as MAs). I tried to educate them much better and I hope that they see the PA profession more favorably in the future. However the country of Nepal does not have any way of acknowledging or licensing PAs except they can license an American physician and he or she can bring a PA as their personal “helper.” But I think inch by inch we can educate the world and things will get better.

[EMEDPA]

I imagine this should improve soon in nepal. they have a lot of british traditions and with the brits now using pa's(something I would mention to them) they may be more willing to do a pilot study based on pa utilization in the u.k.

[jmj11]

I imagine this should improve soon in nepal. they have a lot of british traditions and with the brits now using pa's(something I would mention to them) they may be more willing to do a pilot study based on pa utilization in the u.k.

 

Maybe. The education system still has a British influence . . . but the people on the street are looking more and more to China as their model of life (the Maoist factor) and are wanting to get rid of western influences.

[roman6163]

I assume the P.A. pilot programs in Australia have been going on for a while now.

 

Does anyone have any updates on how it is going out there?

[andohert]

Any idea on Cental or South America? Panama specifically; seems the country would be amenable to PA's, having had such a long history w/ the US.

[Contrarian]

Hopefully better since the "PA" concept is catching on in various countries on the African Continent (some even got the title right)...:)

 

Kenya

 

The training is under the Ministry of Health through the Clinical Officers Council (COC), which sets the syllabus and accredits training institutions. The Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC), also under the Ministry of Health, has campuses all over the country and trains the majority of clinical officers.

 

Unlike other countries, clinical officers in Kenya are a constitutionally recognised profession. They are required to sign legal documents such as medical certificates, death certificates, P3 forms etc and to present medical evidence in a court of law eg in cases of rape and assault..

 

The training is rigorous and follows a compressed medical model. The first year is dedicated to learning the basic sciences, some experience in a diagnostic medical laboratory, nursing and clinical skills. The second year focuses on the clinical subjects whereas the third year is spent almost entirely rotating in every department of a teaching hospital where they attend ward rounds, clerk patients and present cases, perform deliveries and as first assistants in major surgical operations. they also attend clinical meetings and write prescriptions which at this stage must be countersigned by a supervising clinician.

 

Registration After three years of training, students sit for the national final qualifying examination (FQE) which is administered by the Clinical Officers Council. Those who trained outside the country sit a separate paper [exam]. On passing the FQE they are expected to apply for provisional registration by the Clinical Officers Council before proceeding for internship in accredited hospitals. The internship lasts one year and involves three-month supervised rotations in the major clinical departments namely casualty, medicine, paediatrics, surgery, obstetrics and gynecology.

 

Career advancement Qualified clinical officers with three years experience qualify to enroll for a Higher National Diploma at KMTC which leads to a specialist qualification in various specialty fields.

 

Uganda

 

The training is under the ministry of education and takes place in clinical officer training schools. Programs last three years.

 

Kampala International University offers a Bachelor of Science degree in clinical medicine and community health. High school graduates take four-and-a-half years to complete this degree while practicing clinical officers take three years.

Tanzania

 

Training is under the ministry of health. There are numerous clinical officer training schools and programs last three year. Internship is not required for registration.

 

Experienced clinical officers may enroll for an advanced diploma in clinical medicine which takes two years to complete. This qualification is regarded as equivalent to a first degree in medicine by universities in the country. The graduates are then known as Assistant Medical Officers. A further two years training leads to a specialist qualification in anaesthesia, medicine, surgery and radiology etc.

Mozambique

 

Tecnicos de cirurgia are experienced Clinical officers (Tecnicos de medicina) who undergo further residential training in surgery under senior surgeons lasting two years at Maputo Central Hospital and one year internship at a provincial Hospital. They are trained to carry out emergency surgery, obstetrics and traumatology and are deployed to the district hospitals where they are usually the sole surgeons [5].

Malawi

 

Clinical officers train for three years and undergo one year internship whereas Medical assistants train for two years and undergo one year internship. Medical assistants can then enrol for a 18 month up-grading course to become Clinical officers. The upgrading course takes place at Malamulo and Malawi College of Health Sciences.

 

In this country the Clinical officers have almost entirely replaced doctors who are in short supply or based in the urban areas. They are trained to carry out all the routine functions of a doctor at a district hospital hence are able to perform routine surgical and Obstetric Operations such as Caesarean Sections, Hysterectomies, Orthopedic care, Burr holes, Lumbar Punctures, and other important Life saving Surgical procedures.

 

Sudan

 

After a devastating civil war that left much of the southern part of this country in ruins a delicate peace agreement was reached which resulted in the creation of a semi-autonomous state. The resultant impact on healthcare will be felt for years to come. Due to the shortage of health workers AMREF pioneered the training of clinical officers in this region by setting up Maridi National Health Training Institute.

Ethiopia

 

Health officers are trained in universities. All hold bachelor's degrees and therefore can progress to master's level training and education e.g. in emergency surgery.

Liberia

 

The Tubman National Institute of Medical Arts (TNIMA) was established in 1945. In 1965 the physician assistant programme was established as a joint venture between the Liberian government, WHO and UNICEF. Initially it was a one year course but currently it is a three year diploma course accredited by the Liberia National Physician Assistant Association (LINPAA) and the Liberia Medical and Dental Association Board. In order to legally practice medicine as a PA one must sit and pass a state exam administered by the medical board.

South Africa

 

South Africa recently started training Clinical associates. They are to be trained for three years in district hospitals after which they will be awarded a bachelor of clinical practice degree. The first program was launched by Health Minister Tshabalala Msimang on 18 August 2008 at the Walter Sisulu University in Mthatha. Programs also exist at the University of Pretoria and will commence at the University of Witwatersrand and University of Limpopo in 2009.

[just_me]

wow 3 yr program and a 1 yr internship

[dkuhns1]

Please note a correction, at this time there are no PAs working as PAs in either Ireland or Northern Ireland. However, there MAY be developments for experienced surgical PAs in the future for Ireland. Stay tuned.

[dkuhns1]

Correction. Ruth is working in that capacity for the NCCPA. Not, the Academy.

Marie Michele Legler from the AAPA has International affairs under her portfolio as Senior Director of Clinical and Health Affairs.

[Just Steve]

Machelle Datson PA-C, formally employed at North Shore Medical Group in rural Washington State as recently accepted a teaching position for a new program in New Zealand. I do not know her directly but rather am being precepted by her former work mates and getting the info second hand.