Can someone explain requirements for Orthopedic Physician Assistant?

[Hope2PA]

Looking at job for Certified Orthopedic Physician Assistant.  I assumed this was open to PA's with orthopedic experience. However cam across the following from National Board for Certification of Orthopaedic Physician's Assistants  

 "Candidates must have completed an orthopaedic assistant program, a primary care physician assistant program, or a nurse practitioner program or completion of a related allied health care program and have at least five (5) years of experience in orthopaedic work with responsibility in surgical assisting, history and physical assessment, and immobilization techniques, under the supervision of a board-certified orthopaedic surgeon."  

Is this real? Can NP or Allied health become a "Certified Orthopedic Physician Assistant"?   

 

[Arthropathy]

Orthopedic Physician Assistants are not the same as Physician Assistants

[LT_Oneal_PAC]

If I recall, this profession is being phased out and a hold over from a time when there were a few specialty specific PAs. 
 

https://www.aapa.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/PAs_andOPAs_The_Distinctions_1-17.pdf

or maybe they are still around. This candidate handbook is from 2021.

 

https://ptcny.com/pdf/NBCOPA.pdf

 

i do know they are not recognized by Medicare, so employment would probably be very limited and doubt they can practice in all states.

[LKPAC]

Someone once told me that in order to be an orthopod you need to be as strong as a bull and almost as smart! 

[sas5814]

There used to be PA residencies in ortho a hundred years ago,,,  at least in the Army. I haven't seen one mentioned in a long time

[BrianR]

Interesting sidebar:  that's actually how I became aware of the PA profession about a hundred years ago.  I was a paramedic at a hospital-based EMS service and noted that many of the ortho cases in the ED were attended by one of these "COPAs".  I got to talking with the guy one day, and he told me about his training and what he did.  The above replies are correct; their training was limited to strictly orthopedics, and I haven't run into one in many years.  But that sparked my interest, and I discovered the PA profession in my research, and here I am.

[GetMeOuttaThisMess]

Used to work alongside several when I was in spine in the mid-80’s.  Those folks were in general ortho and not spine (well, except for one in our practice who forged NCCPA documents).  No formal medical training; primarily OTJ training.

Edited May 7, 2021 by GetMeOuttaThisMess

[EMEDPA]

I worked with a few in the 90s. I don't believe there are any training programs still around for them. The guy I remember most was 48 in 1996, so he would be 73 now. I think there are very few still in practice.

[thinkertdm]

There was a joke about a group of doctors trapped in an elevator; the doors were closing and they were discussing which part of their body they would stick in the doors that would not inhibit them making money.  The neurosurgeon stuck his foot, because he needed his hands; there was some others, but when the orthopod came up, he stuck his head in.  I totally mess up the joke every time, all I remember is him sticking his head in the door.

My apologies to PA's who work in orthopedics.  The joke was funny though.

[thinkertdm]

2 minutes ago, thinkertdm said:

There was a joke about a group of doctors trapped in an elevator; the doors were closing and they were discussing which part of their body they would stick in the doors that would not inhibit them making money.  The neurosurgeon stuck his foot, because he needed his hands; there was some others, but when the orthopod came up, he stuck his head in.  I totally mess up the joke every time, all I remember is him sticking his head in the door.

My apologies to PA's who work in orthopedics.  The joke was funny though.

PS I think primary care didn't do anything, because wherever the elevator car was headed was better than primary care.  That parts my own.

[sailordeac]

We had an OPA in my old group - he's probably in his mid to late 60s now and just surgical assists full time. He was in the Navy around Vietnam and got OPA training at that point. I have no clue if any insurance reimburses for his services, but he's the best first assist I've ever met, so I'm pretty sure the docs just ate the cost of his salary.