kargiver Posted June 11, 2021 Share Posted June 11, 2021 SEMPA Statement on PA Name Change Criticism Recently, the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) House of Delegates passed a resolution by a majority vote of 198 to 68 affirming “physician associate” as the official title for the PA profession. The vote took place after an exhaustive two-year process that included research and input from a national title investigation firm as well as the voice of a number of key stakeholders. The Society of Emergency Medicine Physician Assistants (SEMPA) was represented as a delegate during this important vote. The idea of changing the “physician assistant” name is far from new. In fact, it has been discussed and debated within the community for the past 20 years, if not more. Additionally, the term “physician associate” has been used as an official title for PAs since the beginning of the PA profession. That, however, has not stopped physician groups across all specialties from pouncing on the unfounded notion that the name change is a calculated move by PAs to encroach upon their profession. This is particularly troublesome and disappointing when it comes to the specialty of emergency medicine. On every level, emergency medicine has successfully operated with a team-based approach. From the staff in the emergency department to the physician/PA model of serving patients to the national physician/PA organizations working together toward the same goals, it has always been based on working as a team. That is why hours prior to a scheduled meeting with SEMPA to discuss the name change, it was so surprising that the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and the Emergency Medicine Residents’ Association (EMRA) released a joint statement in which they opposed the title change without having any understanding, context or history of the Associate title. Even more disappointing was the post on the ACEP Lately blog that followed days after what was a seemingly positive and collegial meeting. In the blog, ACEP further emphasized their opposition to the name change while delineating plans for a public relations campaign to instruct the public to ask to “see a doctor”. Despite claims that this campaign will not be negative or disparaging, we at SEMPA worry that such a campaign will divide the physician and PA professions and tear at the fabric of what has made the team-based approach within emergency medicine so successful. SEMPA will continue to keep its focus squarely on supporting emergency medicine PAs and the patients they serve. PAs are important members of the emergency medicine workforce, and we will not allow the fears and anxieties of outside organizations to distract us from this focus. SEMPA understands that our profession will continue to grow and evolve, and we will maintain our commitment to team-based practice through that evolution. We thank our members for their patience as we work through many of these emergency medicine workforce issues. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sas5814 Posted June 11, 2021 Share Posted June 11, 2021 A voice of reason shouting into the wilderness... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reality Check 2 Posted June 11, 2021 Share Posted June 11, 2021 SO nice to have one organization show support for our profession and not scream about encroachment or overstepping bounds or such nonsense. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HMtoPA Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 (edited) It's just this kind of paternalism that requires a name change. Some of these people at ACEP, EMRA, AAEM, etc. apparently hold the genuine belief that they can dictate the trajectory of our profession. For once, I'm glad that administrators run hospitals, because it means we'll always have jobs, regardless of what these @$$holes think. Edited June 12, 2021 by HMtoPA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cideous Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 Medical Care Practitioner would have went over better. We are not Physicians and we are not Associates.... 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HMtoPA Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 12 hours ago, Cideous said: Medical Care Practitioner would have went over better. We are not Physicians and we are not Associates.... I don't disagree. Man, the nurses would've lost it, though, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kettle Posted June 12, 2021 Share Posted June 12, 2021 46 minutes ago, HMtoPA said: I don't disagree. Man, the nurses would've lost it, though, lol. Can't make everyone happy!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joelseff Posted June 13, 2021 Share Posted June 13, 2021 10 hours ago, HMtoPA said: I don't disagree. Man, the nurses would've lost it, though, lol. That's easy though, by NP's own definition, they do not practice "medicine"... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cinntsp Posted June 13, 2021 Share Posted June 13, 2021 On 6/11/2021 at 5:24 PM, Reality Check 2 said: SO nice to have one organization show support for our profession and not scream about encroachment or overstepping bounds or such nonsense. SEMPA? It's a PA organization. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAinPenna Posted June 14, 2021 Share Posted June 14, 2021 On 6/12/2021 at 1:21 AM, Cideous said: Medical Care Practitioner would have went over better. We are not Physicians and we are not Associates.... Though I am pleased with ANY change that gets "assistant" out of our title- I am now thinking with all this pushback from physician groups we should say 'screw it all " and start fresh with a non-physician name, then detach ourselves completely as a profession. They have proven , especially recently with all the negativity, that they are only out for themselves. I wish the AAPA would see it this way... 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hope2PA Posted June 14, 2021 Share Posted June 14, 2021 31 minutes ago, PAinPenna said: Though I am pleased with ANY change that gets "assistant" out of our title- I am now thinking with all this pushback from physician groups we should say 'screw it all " and start fresh with a non-physician name, then detach ourselves completely as a profession. They have proven , especially recently with all the negativity, that they are only out for themselves. I wish the AAPA would see it this way... AAPA and HOD knew Associate was going to be an issue, they knew physicians would fight, and rightly so, yet they did not want to follow best option for PA. You will spend so much more time, energy and money fighting for associate when you could have just spent time and money changing to MCP without a fight from anyone. Then you could have easily incorporated moving forward with OTP etc. PAs and PA admin/leaders don’t need anyone putting you down or holding you back. It is all done internally. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sas5814 Posted June 14, 2021 Share Posted June 14, 2021 I agree and disagree. the physicians were going to fight us no matter what we choose. We choose to spend out time and money on weak tea instead of swinging for the fence 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TeddyRucpin Posted June 15, 2021 Share Posted June 15, 2021 6 hours ago, Hope2PA said: AAPA and HOD knew Associate was going to be an issue, they knew physicians would fight, and rightly so, yet they did not want to follow best option for PA. You will spend so much more time, energy and money fighting for associate when you could have just spent time and money changing to MCP without a fight from anyone. Then you could have easily incorporated moving forward with OTP etc. PAs and PA admin/leaders don’t need anyone putting you down or holding you back. It is all done internally. MCP would have been fought as well; ANY positive name change would have been railroaded. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CAAdmission Posted June 15, 2021 Share Posted June 15, 2021 I have a response for ACEP. Actually, it's more of a gesture than a response. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator ventana Posted June 15, 2021 Moderator Share Posted June 15, 2021 Remember folks - the Doctors HAVE NEVER HAD OUR BACK Some of of have been under the assumption they did, now that cat is out of the bag and we MUST advocate and progress or die....... 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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