Are PAs truly "allied health"

[LKPAC]

According to the definition from the Association of Schools of Allied Health Professions:  Allied health may be defined as those health professions that are distinct from medicine and nursing.  Allied health professionals, to name a few, include dental hygienists, diagnostic medical sonographers, dietitians, medical technologists, occupational therapists, physical therapists, radiographers, respiratory therapists, and speech language pathologists.

I have great respect for these professions.  In my previous life, I was among them.  

However, I submit that PAs more correctly identified as providers who practice medicine, not allied health.

 

[EMEDPA]

agree. at one of my prior jobs I made a big stink about this and got the PA/NP staff re-categorized as Affiliated Clinicians.

The other one I don't like is non-physician providers, which generally gets shortened to NP providers....

[rev ronin]

Medicine is not allied health; PAs are not allied health.

Where did the question come up?

[mcclane]

Title 42, Chapter 6A, Subchapter V, Part F, Sec. 295p of the Federal Code states that the term ”allied health professionals” means a health professional (other than a registered nurse or physician assistant) who has not received a degree of doctor of medicine, a degree of doctor of osteopathy, a degree of doctor of dentistry or an equivalent degree, a degree of doctor of veterinary medicine or an equivalent degree, a degree of doctor of optometry or an equivalent degree, a degree of doctor of podiatric medicine or an equivalent degree, a degree of bachelor of science in pharmacy or an equivalent degree, a degree of doctor of pharmacy or an equivalent degree, a graduate degree in public health or an equivalent degree, a degree of doctor of chiropractic or an equivalent degree, a graduate degree in health administration or an equivalent degree, a doctoral degree in clinical psychology or an equivalent degree, or a degree in social work or an equivalent degree or a degree in counseling or an equivalent degree.

[sk732]

Biting tongue over graduate degree in health administration being considered a health professional...unless they already were one of the others mentioned before deciding to withdraw from the human race.

Sorry, inner voice coming out.  Again.

 

SK

[Joelseff]

We are "AHP's" or "Allied Health Providers" at my system.  I brought it up to our medical director who told me that we (PAs and NPs) are the only ones with this designation in our system. Nurses and other staff are I think, simply "Staff." For instance, only "AHP's" have privileges to write "physician documentation" in our EHR as well as Rxs besides the Docs. I kindly stated that Allied Health is usually reserved for RN, RT , Xray, ST etc but they kind of brushed me off, patted me on my "AHP" head and said they would look into it. Thing is, I am the only one (none of the NPs or PAs see anything up with this) so I dont want to look like a rabble rouser but I do bring it up when speaking with the admin and managers as well as the med directors who have told me that they highly value me on the team. It may not get anywhere but I'll keep pressing. 

[rev ronin]

Email the corporate legal folks with your concern that the org might be opening itself up to a lawsuit with such inaccurate terminology.