Nov. 10, 2006 — The nation may honor its veterans on Nov. 11, but one man honors them all year round by flying World War II veterans to the new National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., free of charge.

"This is without question the most noble, most honorable thing that I've ever done with my life," Earl Morse said. 

Morse, a physician assistant with the Department of Veterans Affairs in Springfield, Ohio, came up with the idea while talking to a patient.

When Morse asked a veteran if he would want to take the trip, he wasn't prepared for the response he received.

"I was ready for him to say 'yeah' or 'no' or 'let me check with my wife,'" Morse said. "I wasn't ready for him to start crying. And that's when I felt we were on to something."

So he started the group Honor Flight two years ago by flying 12 veterans to Washington on a private plane. Soon he was getting hundreds of applications. His group expanded and now flies commercial with trips funded through donations. 

"When … you are escorting them through the airport and you see all these people standing up and clapping for them, it still makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck and on my arms because I know how much it means to them to be recognized," Morse said.
 

Visit Brings 'Bounce' to Their Step
 

It is a long trip for these vets, with some traveling in wheelchairs to see the memorial 60 years after the war.

Morse grew up in an Air Force family and developed a deep appreciation for the sacrifice veterans make. His father served for more than two decades, including a tour in Vietnam.

Morse became an Air Force captain and served for 20 years, and now his son is enlisted. He said there is a noticeable transformation in veterans' spirits while at the memorial.

"As the day goes by … there's more of a bounce in their step," Morse said.

"It is an experience I will long remember," World War II veteran Al Dunn said

When the trip ended 16 hours later, the daughter of one of the veterans said, "Thank you so much for letting him have this opportunity." 

Morse said that anyone can join in the effort to honor World War II veterans. 

"Anybody out there can stop a 70- or 80-year-old in the supermarket and ask them, 'Are you a WWII veteran?' And if they say 'yeah' just thank them for what they've done, for the blessings and the liberty that we enjoy," he said. "They'll remember that for the rest of their lives.

"In another five to 10 years they'll be gone, these opportunities are fading rapidly," he said. "This is their last hurrah."

How Can You Help? Send check or money order to:   Honor Flight, PO Box 214, Enon, OH 45323.  All contributions are tax deductible (501c3) and you will receive a return receipt

soruce: http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/PersonOfWeek/story?id=2645534&page=1

Physician Colleague Dave Eggert, M.D. & Karen Fields M.S.P.A.S. PA-C

The History of Medical Mentoring

Most young adults do not experience their chosen profession until their latter college years or even until they are on the job as college graduates.  Very few students have the opportunity to gain firsthand experience and insight into their chosen profession, a valuable experience for youths deciding on future careers. The founders of Medical Mentors saw the value in exposing high schoolers to various occupations early in life, helping to inspire them to continue in their chosen field or even determine that it might not be the right profession for them. 

The idea for this program came about through an idea based on unique experience that Karen Fields, PA-C had during high school though a program called WINTERIM.  Winterim was offered during the month of January, allowing students to take classes not offered during Fall and Spring semesters.  Juniors and Seniors had the opportunity to do three-week Internships with a professional of their choice. 

Karen participated in the Internship program both her Junior and Senior years, doing her internships with a local Orthopedic Surgeon, Marc Asselmeier, M.D., of Naperville, IL.  After college, she went on to obtain her Master's degree as a Physician Assistant and took a position in Orthopedic Surgery.  She has been practicing in the specialty since. Karen attributes her love of Medicine and Orthopedics to her early exposure to the field and to a great physician mentor in Marc Asselmeier. 

In 2005, Karen joined Orthopedic Clinic of Appleton to practice with Dave Eggert, M.D.  Having had his own children shadow him throughout their college years, Dave was excited about the idea to expand the same opportunity to other students.  In January 2006, he and Karen met with Appleton East High School Prinicpal Ben Vogel and soon the partnership was forged. 

In July of 2006, Medical Mentors accepted its first 13 students into the program. These students were paired with mentors in the profession of their choice and spent 12-40 hours job shadowing.  The students gave great reviews of the program and for most, it confirmed their desire to go into a medical profession. 

Currently, the program is being offered in the summer as to not take students away from their courses during the semester.  In future years, we hope to expand the program to students of other Fox Valley private and public schools as well as expand the career opportunities to other professions such as Law, Civil Service, and Business. 

For more information please contact: 
Karen Fields, PA-C 
karen.fields@osifv.com 

Within the constraints of the Canadian medical system, it is not possible to adequately supplement the supply of orthopaedic surgeons not only to meet increasing demand but also to reduce waiting times. As a result, it is critical that orthopaedic surgeons make more efficient use of their existing resources.

In the fall of 2005, research was undertaken to examine the potential for orthopaedic surgeon extenders to assist orthopaedic surgeons in their activities both inside and outside the OR. By freeing up the orthopaedic surgeon to concentrate on operating, it is believed that greater patient operating throughput and reduced waiting times would be achieved. 

 Complete Report is Here
http://www.coa-aco.org/images/stories/news/NSCPAdiscussionpaperfinal.pdf

UK Association of Physician Assistants, Ltd, recently held its first annual meeting in the Lake District of Northern England.  We elected the following officers

President: Neil Erickson
Vice President: Frank Crosby
Secretary: Helen Serbousek
Treasurer: Todd Guiton
Director-At-Large: Laura Folts
Director-At-Large: Kirsten Gipson
Student Representative: Chris Green, University of Wolverhampton.

Frank Crosby, PA-C, MPAS
Vice President, UKAPA

John Bullock, PA-C
Col AF/SGOC
John.Bullock@PENTAGON.AF.MIL

Rear Admiral Kenneth P. Moritsugu, M.D., M.P.H., was appointed the Deputy Surgeon General by Assistant Secretary for Health and Surgeon General David Satcher on October 1, 1998.

A career officer in the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service, Admiral Moritsugu served as an Assistant Surgeon General beginning with Surgeon General C. Everett Koop in 1988. Dr. Moritsugu was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. After attending Chaminade College for two years, he received his Baccalaureate Degree with Honors in Classical Languages from the University of Hawaii in 1967, an M.D. from the George Washington University School of Medicine in 1971 and an M.P.H. in Health Administration and Planning from the University of California, Berkeley in 1975.

He began his Public Health Service (PHS) career in 1968 and completed three tours of duty while in medical school. These included assignments in Community Nursing in Washington, Forensic Psychiatry at St. Elizabeth's Hospital in Washington, D.C. and Leprosy Research and Clinical Care at the USPHS Hospital in San Francisco. Having completed residences in Internal Medicine and in Preventive Medicine, Admiral Moritsugu is Board Certified in Preventive Medicine; holds Fellowships in the American College of Preventive Medicine; the Royal Society of Health and Royal Society of Medicine; and is a Certified Correctional Health Professional.

Over his career, Admiral Moritsugu has served in many diverse assignments. These include Staff Medical Officer at the UPSHS Hospital Outpatient Department in San Francisco; Medical Officer on board U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Taney; Regional Consultant for HHS in San Francisco for Medical Manpower Planning and Development; Chief of International Medical Education Programs; Deputy Director, then Director, of the Division of Medicine of the Health Resources and Services Administration; Director of National Health Service Corps; and Deputy Director of the Bureau of Health Professions.

Most recently, from December 1987 to September 1998, he served as an Assistant Bureau Director and the Medical Director of the U.S. Department of Justice's Federal Bureau of Prisons, a position responsible for the health care of over 120,00 federal inmates and detainees, with a budget in excess of $400 million. This includes medical and psychiatric care, occupational safety and environmental health and food and nutrition services. During his tenure, the Bureau tripled in size due to the growth of the incarcerated population.

Admiral Moritsugu has been the federal representative to numerous national health care agencies and has provided consultation in health professions development to Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Germany, Mexico and the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. He served as the official U.S. observer to the Council of Europe's Select Committee of Experts on the Impact of the AIDS Epidemic on the Criminal Justice System in Strasbourg, France.

Admiral Moritsugu has received numerous honors and awards, including the Surgeon General's Medal for Exemplary Service; the Surgeon General's Medallion; the Distinguished Service, the Meritorious Service, the Outstanding Service and the Commendation Medals of the U.S. Public Health Service; the Distinguished Service and the Meritorious Service Medals of the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons; the Army Achievement Medal; the Coast Guard Arctic Service Medal; and the Phillips Medal of Public Service from Ohio University, among many others.

He has additionally received the President's Award from the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine and the William B. Miller Award from the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine. He was recently deemed an Honorary Deputy United States Marshal by the Director of the U.S. Marshals Service.

Admiral Moritsugu holds Honorary Doctor of Science degrees from the University of New England and the Midwestern University of North Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine. Within the past few years, he has received the Director's Special Achievement Award from the U.S. Marshals Service, the John D. Chase Award from the Association of Military Surgeons of the United States, the Nathan K. Davis Award from the American Medical Association, the Distinguished Service Award from the American Correctional Health Services Association and a Special Achievement Award from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care. In 1997, the American Academy of Physician Assistants named him an Honorary Lifetime Member, a distinction granted to only a handful of non-PAs.

He has been an Adjunct Associate Professor of Public Health at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and has spoken and written extensively, in many diverse areas, including health professions education, health professions credentialing and quality assessment, the physician assistant profession, international health care, health systems development, health care delivery to underserved populations, emergency health care response in natural disaster, correctional health care, managed care, HIV, health promotion/disease prevention and organ and tissue donation and transplantation.

He was founding Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Certified Correctional Health Professions Program and has served for the past four years as the Chair of the American Correctional Association's Committee on Health Care in Corrections.

In his official capacity, Admiral Moritsugu has been a dedicated advocate for organ and tissue donation and transplantation. Since 1994, he has been an active participant in the Donor Family Recognition Programs in Washington, D.C., and a key speaker at numerous national and local programs on organ donation and transplantation.

In his private capacity, he is a member of the Board of Directors of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS), Secretary/Treasurer and Board member of the Washington Regional Transplant Consortium (WRTC) and member of the National Advisory Board for the Minority Organ and Tissue Transplant Education Program (MOTTEP). He is an active volunteer with the Transplant Recipients International Organization (TRIO) and has been a past member of the Board of Trustees of the National Kidney Foundation (NKF), the Executive Committee of the National Donor Family Council and the Washington Regional Transplant Consortium's Donor Family Council, its Public Affairs Committee and its Minority Affairs Committee.

Additionally, he serves as a Trustee and Treasurer of the Physician Assistants Foundation (PAF) of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, Chairman of the Board of the Anchor and Caduceus Society of the U.S. Public Health Service and member of the Board of Directors of the Royal Society of Medicine Foundation. He is the immediate past Chair of the U.S. Chapter of the Royal Society of Health.

He lost his wife, Donna Lee Jones Moritsugu, in an automobile accident in 1992, and his daughter Vikki Lianne in a separate automobile accident in 1996. Both of them were organ and tissue donors. Admiral Moritsugu has one surviving daughter, Erika Lizabeth Moritsugu. 

source:  http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/library/youthviolence/moritsugu.htm

Senior doctors from across Scotland have flown to America to recruit staff under a controversial new plan to combat the shortage of physicians.

A delegation from the Scottish Executive and cash-strapped NHS health boards is in San Francisco for up to a fortnight at taxpayers' expense to try to hire 20 physicians' assistants.

News of the trip comes days after it emerged that hundreds of junior doctors from overseas who trained and worked in Scotland are facing deportation because of changes in immigration rules. The US effort has angered opposition politicians and health campaigners who have accused the executive of wasting money. They fear patients' safety may be put at risk.

Margaret Davidson, chief executive of the Patients' Association in Scotland, said it was another example of health service inefficiency. 'Taxpayers will be mystified as to why we are spending thousands of pounds sending this delegation to America to recruit assistants who are not as well qualified as the hundreds of doctors who long to stay and work in Scotland.'

The US-trained assistants are being recruited for a two-year pilot scheme to help hospital doctors and general practitioners. If the scheme is successful, it will spread across the country.

The project will allow newly qualified science graduates to carry out minor operations after only one or two years of medical training.

In America, where these 'PAs' are commonly used, they assist in surgery, conduct physical examinations, provide patient education and preventative health counselling and are licensed to prescribe medication. They are always supervised by senior medical staff.

However, following a pilot scheme in the NHS in England several years ago, concerns were raised about a lack of adequate supervision for the assistants. This is likely to be an even greater problem in Scotland because of its acute shortage of consultants.

Critics of the scheme expressed fear that it would create a new breed of health worker who was 'not a nurse, not quite a doctor but taking on the functions of a senior house officer', which is a middle-grade physician.

One consultant feared the assistants would effectively be used as junior doctors, adding that it was an attempt to provide medical care on the cheap because of their lower training costs and pay.

In Scotland, the US-trained assistants will work in hospital accident and emergency departments and GP surgeries in the Western Isles, Lanarkshire, Grampian, Highland, Lothian and Tayside areas.

Shona Robison, the SNP shadow Health Minister, said: 'It seems that taxpayers' money could be better spent on recruiting and retaining doctors here in Scotland, particularly at a time when we may lose a number of non-EU junior doctors due to new Home Office rules.'

Nanette Milne, the Tory health spokeswoman, said that while urgent action was needed to address workforce issues, patients would be alarmed if the person operating on them was anything less than a qualified doctor. But Andy Kerr, the Health Minister, said there was evidence that PAs made a valuable contribution: 'They are trained to undertake physical examinations, diagnose illness, develop and carry out treatment plans, order and interpret laboratory tests, suture lacerations and apply casts.'

If the pilot scheme was successful, PAs would be trained in the NHS in Scotland, he added. It is believed that around eight people from the executive and health boards are in the US to recruit 20 PAs. Meanwhile, pressure is building on the Department of Health and the Home Office to issue urgent clarification on the status of overseas doctors.

It was reported last week that hundreds of junior doctors in Scotland, who have spent up to £100,000 on their medical education and could have taken some of the hard-to-fill consultant posts, may be deported within months.

Critics said the hasty change to the immigration rules would make the UK less attractive to medical students from abroad and would harm patient care.

Copyright Guardian Newspapers Limited
http://www.guardian.co.uk/medicine/story/0,,1784877,00.html

Practitioners May Violate the Equal Pay Act
By: Charles A. Freeman and Laura Y. Taylor

On March 17, 2006, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit in Beck-Wilson et al v Principi held that
seventeen female Nurse Practitioner plaintiffs could proceed to trial on their claim that their Veterans
Administration hospital employer violated the Equal Pay Act by paying them less than their Physician
Assistant co-workers. The decision of the Court serves as an alert to all employers to carefully examine
the gender mix and pay differentials between job categories that perform similar duties and to take
appropriate corrective action where required to avoid potential Equal Pay Act violations.

Facts of the Case
Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and Physician Assistants (PAs) working at the Cleveland, Ohio Veterans Affairs
Medical Center (VAMC) were paid according to congressionally determined pay scales under two
different statutory frameworks. The Nurse Pay Act of 1990 ensured that the Veterans Administration (VA)
pay nurses competitively in each local market. However PAs were paid according to the General Schedule (GS) pay scale.

NPs and PAs received regular step increases within their pay grades and cost of living adjustments
as authorized by Congress. In addition, the applicable statutes empowered the VA to increase the basic pay
of health care personnel, if necessary, to (1) provide competitive pay, (2) achieve adequate staffing or
(3) recruit personnel with specialized skills. Pursuant to that statutory authority, the Cleveland VAMC in
1990 adopted a special pay scale for PAs in response to difficulties encountered in recruiting entry level PAs.

Although the education and certification processes for NP and PA positions differed, they performed
similar work at VAMC, and worked side-by-side performing the same functions and using the same
skills. When a position was available, the hospital would advertise it as a middle level practitioner
position to be filled either by an NP or a PA. 95% of the NPs employed at the Cleveland VAMC were
female while 85% of the PAs employed at that facility were male.

In 1999, plaintiff Laura Beck-Wilson learned that the PAs were earning more money for performing the
same duties as she did as an NP. When her requests for an appropriate pay adjustment were denied, she
and a group of NPs filed suit alleging violations of the EPA.

Decision of the Court
The appellate court held that the plaintiffs had established a prima facie case of an EPA violation, and
that the case should proceed to trial. In order to establish a prima facie case, plaintiffs had to show that
the employer paid different wages to employees of opposite sexes for equal work on jobs requiring
substantially equal skill, effort and responsibility and which are performed under similar working
conditions. Whether a job is substantially equal for EPA compliance purposes is resolved by an overall
comparison of the work that is actually performed. 

In the Beck-Wilson case, the court found the plaintiffs had met their prima facie case burden by
demonstrating the fungibility of the two jobs which the hospital officials had conceded existed. In that
regard, the Court rejected the hospital’s defense that the equal pay claim should fail because the plaintiffs
had not established complete gender diversity between the two positions; e.g., 5% of the NPs were male and
15% of the PAs were female. The court held that complete diversity between the plaintiffs and their
comparatives was not required to establish a prima facie case. The plaintiffs’ prima facie case was further
supported by statistical evidence that the predominately male PAs were paid more than the
predominantly female NPs for performing substantially equal work. On an individual
comparison basis, each of the plaintiffs was able to identify a specific opposite gender counterpart with an
annual wage disparity ranging from $600 to over $10,000.

Under the EPA an employer can rebut a plaintiffs’ prima facie case by establishing one of the affirmative
defenses; e.g. that the alleged discriminatory pay differential was based on a system of (1) seniority,
(2) merit, (3) measuring earnings by quantity or quality of production or (4) any other factor other than sex.

The appellate court, however, rejected the VAMC’s claims that the pay differentials arose
because of government mandated programs or because the VAMC did not have the authority to place the NPs
on an increased special pay scale to eliminate the differential. Instead, the appellate court found ample
evidence of numerous NP resignations thereby raising a genuine issue of fact as to whether the VA could
have exercised its authority to increase the NPs’ pay in response to a recruitment and retention problem just as
it had done in 1990 for the PAs.

The Implications for Health Care Employers Although licensing and certification requirements
for PAs and NPs vary among the states, the basic clinical tasks performed by both groups do not differ
widely in most primary care settings. With the growing reliance upon physician assistants and nurse
practitioners to deliver quality health care services on an economic and affordable basis, the manner in which
these members of the health care delivery system team are compensated will continue to be a matter of
concern.

The Beck-Wilson decision illustrates the proposition that differences in written job descriptions
alone will not suffice to successfully defend an EPA violation claim, nor will compensation surveys suffice
to defend an EPA violation if, in fact, the employees in both job classifications perform similar work under
similar working conditions. Substantial equality will be determined by an overall comparison of the work
actually performed and, where the duties of the different job classifications are viewed and treated as
"fungible", the potential for an EPA violation exists. 

As the court noted in the Beck-Wilson case, complete gender diversity between the two classifications is not
required to establish a prima facie case and it is no defense to an EPA claim that there is some
representation of the opposite sex in each of the two affected classifications.

Accordingly, the Beck-Wilson decision strongly suggests that health care employers carefully examine
the duties performed by both PAs and NPs along with the comparative pay scales under which they are
compensated. In addition, employers should examine their hiring practices. It is not uncommon for health
care employers to advertise positions as available to PAs or NPs. However, this practice places employers
at risk of EPA claims by indicating that the same functions may be performed by either class of employee.

It is not entirely clear where the line is drawn for gender distinctions between job categories. In Beck-
Wilson, NPs were 95% female and PAs were 85% male; however, there is no defined, numerical
threshold for EPA violations. Therefore, employers must consider many factors, including job duties,
working conditions, pay differentials, and gender disparities, to determine whether they are in
compliance with the EPA. Further, employers must keep in mind that the gender composition of job
categories is subject to change and should be monitored on an ongoing basis. Where there is a
gender disparity between employment positions, significant pay differentials will need to be clearly
supported by legitimate business and labor market conditions to successfully defend a potential EPA claim.

Clearly, the risk of EPA violations is not unique to the PA and NP positions. Any job classifications that
are paid disparate wages for performing the same job functions will be subject to a lawsuit if the positions
are marked by gender disparity. For example, in certain facilities, RNs and LPNs, as well as
anesthetists and anesthesiologists, may perform the same job duties. In the health care industry, which has
hundreds of different job classifications, it is important to analyze job duties and responsibilities, working
conditions, hiring practices, and pay scales to avoid challenges under the EPA.

If you have any questions about your obligations under the EPA or Title VII, please feel free to contact any Labor & Employment attorney at Gardner Carton
source:  http://www.gcd.com

The "pioneering" here is not much difference than what went on in the US.  Establishing a new profession is difficult.  Money is real touchy here, as the system is socialized medicine, primarily, which had a massive cost over run this past fiscal year, with lots of National Health Service (NHS) people being laid off. 

The patient acceptance has been wonderful.  The PA concept is still new to them.  Provider acceptance for those that work with PA's has also been excellent.  There are about 30 PA's working in the NHS, so the numbers aren't great enough to make a dent into things, yet.  The lack of acceptance from other medical folks has been from the predictable groups--those that think we are out to take their jobs, including the GP, NP and some nurses. 

Most of us are on a fixed contract, a set amount for a full time work week of 37.5 hours.  No overtime. No call. No weekends.  A few don't fit into that category, but it depends on their individuaol contract.  Most are in primary care, although we have one in a hospitalist setting and at least two in emergency medicine. 

Malpractice is covered through the NHS.  If a PA is working in a clinic that sees private patients, they will have to provide medical defense cover--at about £300 (Appx $540) per year--same as a GP.

We do not have prescriptive rights.  Drug lists are different--even amongst same items.  Consider the followin
We use a lot of paracetamol here.  In American, the same chemical is called acetaminophen 
I am yet to write a prescription for hydrochlorthiazide here.  The most frequently used thiazide is bendroflumethiazide 
My daughter, who suffers from allergies, prefers the British brand name Benadryl.  It is non-sedating.  Dephenhydramine is available, but is used primarily in sleeping tablets (although we do use it for the same reasons as in US) 

Frank
Frank Crosby  pafrankc@GMAIL.COM

Renee Blaha, a certified physician assistant and certified athletic trainer, has joined the staff of South Shore Orthopedics. As a physician assistant, Blaha can conduct exams, diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries, order and interpret tests and prescribe medicine. 

Blaha will work in conjunction with the clinic's physicians, Dr. Scott Warren, Dr. John Sauer and Dr. Clinton Moen as well as Troy Naftzger, PA-C. The clinic specializes in general orthopedic surgery, sports medicine, total joint replacement, emergency orthopedics, hand surgery and arthroscopic surgery. 

"I feel the most important part of my work is developing a good relationship with my patients. In fact, it's more than a relationship, it's a partnership," said Blaha. She hopes to work with area high school and college athletes, "My goal is to help them return back to athletics as quickly and safely as possible." 

"We are pleased to have Renee on our staff. She has a background in Sports Medicine and osteoporosis care. Her greatest strength is her ability to counsel patients on regaining and maintaining their good health," said Dr. Scott Warren, orthopedic surgeon with South Shore Orthopedics. 

"I spend the time it takes to educate my patients to ensure they can make well-informed decisions regarding their treatment. I want every patient to understand what their problem is and what their options are." said Blaha. She explains as a physician assistant, she works in conjunction with the orthopedic surgeons to provide orthopedic care. 

Blaha earned her bachelors degree in Physician Assistant studies from the University of South Dakota School of Medicine. She has an undergraduate degree from Bemidji State University. 

She worked as a certified physician's assistant and athletic trainer at the Center for Neurosciences, Orthopedics and Spine PC in South Dakota, as well as with Miller Orthopedic Affiliates in Iowa. She is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the Physician Assistants in Orthopedic Surgery. She also is a certified clinical bone densitometrist. 

Blaha spends her free time jogging, hiking, playing softball, traveling and reading. 

To make an appointment with Renee Blaha, contact South Shore Orthopedics, located on the ground level of Memorial Medical Center in suite 1 or call, 715-685-5500. Ms. Blaha is also available for speaking engagements regarding orthopedic and sports medicine topics. 

http://www.ashlandmmc.com

By Wendy J. Meyeroff
Monster Contributing Writer 
Working alongside physicians, Bill Mahaffy has harvested arteries and treated patients in cardiac-care units, but he's not a physician; he's a physician assistant (PA), an occupation that is expected to be one of the fastest-growing over the coming years. 

PAs, who work under the supervision of doctors, are highly trained, licensed healthcare professionals who treat and diagnose patients, perform various medical procedures and act as a liaison with nurses, lab techs and others on the healthcare team. In 48 states and the District of Columbia, PAs can even prescribe medication. 

With greater demand for healthcare services, Mahaffy says PAs are "taking care of about 80 percent of what the doctors used to," freeing doctors to focus on more complicated cases. 

For those willing to undergo the rigorous required medical training, the PA profession offers excellent prospects and a variety of opportunities for specialization. 

Fast-Growing Field 

Mahaffy, a certified physician assistant (PA-C) at Evangelical Community Hospital in Columbia, Pennsylvania, became a PA about 10 years ago after 25 years as a paramedic. "I had colleagues who were PAs, and it seemed like a logical progression," he explains. "It was the best career choice I ever made." It's a promising one as well. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the occupation will be the third fastest-growing professional job in the nation through 2012, when the number of PAs is expected to increase to 94,000, up 49 percent from 2002. The median annual salary is about $65,000, with the top 10 percent earning more than $90,000. 

While salaries are high, aspiring PAs must be willing to tackle one of the more extensive health education programs outside of traditional medical school. Most physician assistant programs require applicants to have previous healthcare experience and some college education. The typical applicant holds a bachelor's degree and has worked in healthcare for four years, according to the American Academy of Physician Assistants. PA training usually takes about two years full-time. In addition, graduates must pass a national certifying exam to obtain their state licenses. Continuing education is also required. 

Like Mahaffy, many PAs segue naturally into the occupation from other healthcare fields. Mahaffy has seen former nurses, exercise physiologists, fitness trainers and even two mortuary technicians become PAs. 

The Adrenaline Rush 

PAs can be generalists or specialize in areas such as cardiology, pediatrics, psychiatry or trauma. 

Mahaffy, who is president of the American Association of Surgical Physician Assistants, is a surgical PA specializing in cardiothoracic procedures. He's harvested arteries for cardiac surgeons, put in dialysis catheters and inserted feeding tubes. Today, as a hospitalist (another specialty), he works anywhere outside the OR where surgical expertise is needed. For example, one of his duties in the cardiac-care unit is providing chest drainage to patients with congestive heart failure. 

Mahaffy works five days on, five days off, starting at 5:30 a.m. or 6 a.m. for what are supposed to be 10 or 12-hour shifts, but he stays as long as he's needed. His specialty can be "a young man's game," he admits. "You can live on adrenaline and caffeine." 

In a Family Way 

Charlene Morris, MPAS, PA-C, offers another look at a PA's life. A former lab tech, Morris has been a family-practice PA for 24 years. While she has been employed at major medical centers, she now works alongside a family-practice physician at the B.F. Taylor Medical Arts Family Medicine Clinic in the small town of Burkesville, Kentucky. 

She describes the relationship with the doctor she supports as "very complementary" and says she loves the versatility of family medicine. "I'll handle everything from colds and rashes, to sports injuries, to people with diabetes," says Morris, who is president of the Association of Family Practice Physician Assistants. 

Earlier this year, she widened her work's scope by dividing her time between the clinic and the Cumberland County (Kentucky) ER. "I've had to go back and expand my suturing skills, and we have to be up on advanced cardiac life support," she says. 

Morris and Mahaffy emphasize the flexibility in their careers and agree that they could move into other areas, from neonatal to aerospace medicine. "PAs can work in any and all settings with their physician colleagues," Mahaffy says. 

Find jobs as Physician Assistants and much more in the Military.com Career Center. 

This article originally appeared on Monster Career Advice: http://content.monster.com. 

  A Fort Campbell soldier killed in Iraq last week is being remembered
by his family as someone who was into being healthy, had a strong work
ethic and loved his family.

  Post officials Monday announced the death of Capt. Anthony R. Garcia,
48, of Texas. Garcia, a physician assistant assigned to Headquarters
and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 101st Aviation Regiment, 101st
Aviation Brigade, was the first person from the brigade to die in Iraq
since the division deployed in September.

  Garcia's wife, Doris, described her husband of 20 years as
an "awesome guy" who was into running and weight-lifting. Most
importantly, she said, he was very much into his family.

  "He really was such a family man. He loved his kids and doing stuff
together. We'll just miss him so much," she said.

  Monico Garcia, Capt. Garcia's father, said his son was a "normal boy"
who participated in Boy Scouts and Little League baseball as a child.
His father said he worked while he was in high school and was
determined to go to college.

  "That was his thing — higher education, to get a job and pay enough
for the things he wanted and needed," Mr. Garcia said from his home in
Hudson Oaks, Texas. "He was work-oriented to get the things he wanted.
He was a happy person. He liked to kid people a lot and do fun things."

  Post officials Monday did not say whether Garcia's injuries were
combat-related, nor did they release any details about the nature of
his injuries. Cathy Grambling, a spokeswoman for Fort Campbell,
confirmed Garcia was shot on a military base in Tikrit on Friday.

  "It's currently under investigation. Until that's completed, I can't
answer that," said Fort Campbell spokesman Maj. Chris Belcher.

  Capt. Garcia joined the Army in August 1989 and arrived at Fort
Campbell in June 2001. His awards and decorations include the Bronze
Star Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Army Achievement Medal,
the Army Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Armed
Forces Expeditionary Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Service
Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge, Combat Medical Badge, Pathfinder
Badge, Ranger Tab, Scuba Diver Badge, Special Forces Tab, Soutwest Asia
Service Medal, Kuwait Liberation Medal, Global War on Terrorism
Expeditionary Medal and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

  In addition to his wife and father, Capt. Garcia is survived by his
daughter, Kelly, and son, Garrick, both of Clarksville; his mother,
JoAnn Garcia, of Hudson Oaks; two sisters, Monica Ann Schnidman and
Lisa Gail Shriver; and a brother, Gregory J. Garcia.

  Garcia is the 57th Fort Campbell soldier to die in Iraq since
September, when the division most recently deployed in support of
Operation Iraqi Freedom. A total of 126 soldiers from Fort Campbell
have died in Iraq since March 2003.

  A memorial service for Garcia will be in Iraq. Fort Campbell holds a
monthly Eagle Remembrance Ceremony the second Wednesday of each month.

  Thomya Hogan can be reached at 245-0282 or by e-mail at
thomyahogan@theleafchronicle.com.
 

source: 
http://www.theleafchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060221/NEWS01/602210331/1002

RICHARD E. CHERRY, III, PA-C
July 15, 1955 - February 20, 2006

Richard E. Cherry, PA-C, passed away suddenly and unexpectedly at his home in Ocala, Florida on Monday evening, February 20th, 2006. Rick was the President of Florida Academy from 1988-1989. Rick was the on-site manager for Forest Family Health in Silver Springs, Florida from 1995 till his death. This clinic was a rural health clinic in a medically underserved area and Rick practiced "cradle to grave" medicine as he phrased it. 

In a ceremonial signing on February 14, Governor Taft signed SB154 into
law.  As he signed the bill, the Governor commented that this was a
"great day for Ohio."

Attending the ceremonial signing were the bill's sponsor Senator Lynn
Wachtmann, his Aide Bethany Rhodes, OAPA Lobbyist Terrence O'Donnell,
Dr. Jeffrey Bachtel (who was instrumental in getting the support of the
Ohio Academy of Family Physicians) and OAPA members John Trimbath, Bob
Zaayer, Ray Wawrowski, Amie Rinaldi and Dan Goodrich and, representing
the Ohio PA Programs, Tri-C Director Sharon Luke.

The Act will go into effect on May 15, 2006 but please be aware that not
all portions of the bill will begin on that date.

PAs will NOT be able to write prescriptions until the rules are
promulgated and finalized by the State Medical Board and the PA is
issued a certificate to prescribe.  This could take up to 18 months.

Elimination of new patient, new condition will become effective on May
15 as well as the elimination of the counter signatures and health care
facilities will be able to credential PA's to provide "special services"
for their supervising physicians.

Please visit the OAPA website (www.ohiopa.com) to access the Bricker and
Eckler summary of the bill.  Many of your questions will be addressed in
that document.

OAPA
800/292-4997
oapa@infinet.com

Ohio Association of Physician Assistants

For Immediate Release Contact: Beth Adamson

February 1, 2006 800/292-4997

oapa@infinet.com

Ohio Legislature Passes Bill to Improve Delivery of Health Care

Legislation Will Give Patients Greater Access to Medical Care Services
 
 

The 126th Ohio General Assembly has approved Senate Bill 154, which will allow physician assistants (PAs) to provide a broader and more comprehensive range of medical care services to patients in the state. The bill now goes to Governor Bob Taft for his signature. 

Physician assistants are licensed health professionals who practice medicine as members of a team with their supervising physicians. PAs deliver a broad range of medical and surgical services to diverse populations in both rural and urban settings. As part of their comprehensive responsibilities, PAs in Ohio may conduct physical exams, take patient medical histories, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery, perform other medical and surgical services within the supervising physician’s normal course of practice, and, with the signing of this legislation, prescribe medications. The supervising physician is required to be available for, and in communication with, their PA when the PA is treating patients.

Speaking in favor of the legislation on the House floor, Rep. Jon Peterson (Dist. 2-Delaware) said, "This bill will positively impact the quality of patient care provided in this state by giving physicians flexibility that other states enjoy and are using extensively as witnessed by the high demand for this [PA] profession." 

(more)
 

Ohio Legislature Passes Bill to Improve Delivery of Health Care

February 1, 2006

Page Two

With this legislation, physician assistants will be allowed to treat new patients and patients in their practices with new problems and populations they have been unable to treat to date, which has caused delays in scheduling visits to a clinic or practice.
 

In addition, the legislation will allow physician assistants to prescribe medications and selective controlled substances, as approved by their supervising physicians. When this legislation goes into effect, Ohio will become the 49th state to authorize physician assistants to prescribe. The only remaining state that does not allow doctors to delegate this authority to PAs is Indiana. 

"Ohio physician assistants can finally join our fellow PAs in others states who, as members of a physician-PA team, can be utilized to the fullest of their capabilities," stated Ray Wawrowski, president of the Ohio Association of PAs. "This was truly a team effort lead by our Governmental Affairs Committee, whose tireless pursuit of this legislation over the past five years has been an inspiration for all of us." 

Wawrowski added, "This was also a collaborative process involving dialogue with physician and nursing groups, hospital and other health care associations, and the academic organizations within Ohio. We are truly thankful to Senator Watchman and Representative Peterson for sponsoring and supporting legislation. We are most appreciative for the guidance and counsel of our lobbyist, Terrence O'Donnell of Bricker and Eckler, and the support from the American Academy of PAs. The changes to our statutes ensures present and future physician-PA teams will be available to be an integral part of health care services and help increase access to health care overall in Ohio." 

According to data collected by the American Academy of Physician Assistants, there are approximately 59,000 clinically practicing PAs in the United States. Of that, approximately 1,500 work in Ohio, and the Cleveland Clinic is one of the largest employers of PAs in the state with 125 physician assistants on staff. There are five-nationally accredited physician assistant education programs in the state. The Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the physician assistant profession will be the fourth fastest growing profession in the country between 2004 and 2014. The BLS estimates the number of PA jobs will increase by 50 percent over this 10-year period, while the total number of jobs in the country will increase by 13 percent.

The Ohio Association of Physician Assistants (OAPA) represents physician assistants in the state in all medical and surgical specialties. OAPA works to promote quality, cost effective health care and the professional and personal growth of PAs. For more information about OAPA, visit its Web site, www.ohiopa.com. For a summary of SB154, visit www.lsc.state.oh.us/analyses126/s0154-rh-126.pdf.

###

Q. What does a physician assistant do? 
A. As part of their respondibilities, physician assistants perform physicial exams, diagnose illness, develop and carry out treatment plans, order and interpret lab tests, suture lacerations, apply casts, assist in surgery, provide patient education and preventive health care counseling, and in virtually all states prescribe medications. 
To allow the physician-PA team to be more efficient in providing care to patients, the vast majority of states do not require PAs and their supervising physicians to be at the same location. All state laws require the supervising physician to be available, either in person or by telecommunications, when the PA is seeing patients.
 

Q. What is the education process for a PA? 
A. The scope of a PA’s work corresponds to the supervising practice. In general, a physician assistant and the supervising physician will see patients with the same kinds of illnesses. The cases handled by physicians are generally the more complicated medical cases of those that require care that is not a routine part of the PA’s scope of work. 
Supervising physicians determine which patients and what kinds of illnesses they want PA’s to treat. Close consultation between the patient, PA, and physician is done for unusual or hard to manage illnesses. Physician assistants are taught to know when it is appropriate to have the patient seen by the physician. It is an important part of PA training.
 

Q. What is the education process for a PA? 
A. The typical applicant to a physician assistant education program has a bachelor’s degree and four years health care experience. Commonly nurses, emergency medical technicians, and paramedics apply to PA’s programs. 
PA programs look for students who have a desire to study, to work hard, and to be of service. All PA programs are accredited by one independent organization supported by the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Surgeons, and other national medical organizations. Whether located at a college, university, medical school, or teaching hospital, all PA programs must meet the same national accreditation standards. 

The typical PA program provides students a broad education in primary care medicine in two phases. The first phase includes lectures and lab sessions in anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, microbiology, medical ethics, and similar courses. 

The second phase is spent in clinical rotations in such specialties as family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, emergency medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, geriatrics, surgery, psychology, and other specialties. During this period, students treat patients in each of the major disciplines of medicine and perform additional work on campus. 

A PA’s education doesn’t stop after graduation, though. To keep abreast of medical advances, PA’s are committed to life-long learning. PA’s take continuing medical education classes throughout their career and sit for a national recertification exam every six years.
 

Q. How did the profession begin? 
A. In the mid-1960s, physicians and educators recognized there was a shortage and uneven distribution of primary care physicians. To expand the delivery of quality medical care, Eugene Stead, M.D. at the Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina, put together the first class of physician assistants in 1965. He selected four Navy corpsmen who received medical training during their military services but who had no comparable civilian employment opportunities. Stead based the education of PA’s in part on his knowledge of the fast-track training if doctors during World War II. 

Q. Where do physician assistants work? 
A. PA’s are employed in virtually all types of health care settings – hospitals, clinics, private physician offices, schools, HMOs, and even in the White House as members of the medical team taking care of the President and Vice President. The U.S. government employs PA’s in the military, Veteran’s Administration, Bureau of Prisons, Public Health Service, and other agencies. 
PA’s can be found in communities of all sizes, from the smallest rural town to major metropolitan areas, and in virtually every medical and surgical specialty. Although the majority of PA’s work in primary care medicine – family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, and obstetrics and gynecology – many work in specialty medicine, such as cardiothoracic surgery and orthopedics. PA’s may also work in the areas of medical education, health administration, and research.
 

Q. What's the difference between a PA and a physician? 
A. Physician assistants are trained in medicine, just like physicians, and in some programs PA’s attend many of the same classes as medical students. Both professions are educated to detect diseases and treat them, and to assist patients in living a healthier lifestyle. A major difference between PA education and physician education is the amount of time spent in their formal education. In addition, physicians are required to do and internship after graduation from medical school, and the majority of physicians complete a residency in a specialty following their internship. PA’s are not required to undertake an internship or residency. 

Q. Have physician assistants been accepted on the health care team? 
A. Most physician who have worked with physicians assistants like having PA’s on staff. The American Medical Association, the American College of Surgeons, the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American College of Physicians, and other medical groups support the physician assistant profession by having voting members on the boards that accredit PA educational programs and certify indivdual PA’s 

PA’s enjoy a collegial relationship with other providers because physician assistants have demonstrated their commitment to their patients and their competence in delivering quality medical care. Their training as team players enables them to work with other providers to ensure appropriate patient care in all settings. 

According to the Eigth Report to the President and Congress on the Status of Health Personnel in the United States, “physician assistants have demonstrated their clinical effectiveness both in terms of quality of care and patient experience.”
 

Q. What does the "C" in PA-C mean? 
A. Physician assistant-certified. It means that the person who holds the title has passed the certification exam developed jointly by the National Board of Medical Examiners and the National Commission of Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). The NCCPA is an independent organization, and its commissioners represent different national medical organizations and the PA profession. Only graduates from accredited PA educational programs are allowed to take the initial exam. 
To maintain that “C” after “PA”, a physician assistant must log 100 ours of continuing medical education every two years and take the national re-certification exam every six years. The certification and recertification exams help ensure there is a core medical and surgical knowledge that each PA-C should attain and maintain.
 

Q. What is the American Academy of Physician Assistants? 
A. AAPA is the only national professional society to represent all physician assistants in every area of medicine. Founded is 1968, the Academy represents PA’s in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, and the federal services. Its mission is to provide quality, cost-effective, and accessible health care, as well as to support the professional development of physician assistants. AAPA pursues these goals through government relations and public education programs, research and data collection efforts, and continuing education activities. 

source: http://www.drhoward.cardiologydomain.com/handler.cfm?event=practice,faq,main&nid=1977#5

New Training Program, Benefits for Army Physician Assistants

Tuesday February 28, 11:24 am ET 

FORT KNOX, Ky., Feb. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- From prescribing medications to teaching military medics, physician assistants (PAs) are an integral part of the U.S. Army Health Care team. Now, as the demand for PAs increases, the Army offers more comprehensive education programs, career growth opportunities and substantial benefits.

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The Army now offers a three-year loan repayment program to any physician assistant-certified (PA-C) interested in serving as an Army PA. Qualified PA- Cs receive a repayment of $30,651 per year, totaling $91,953. In addition to monetary benefits, the Army offers greater autonomy, responsibility in team- oriented environments and skill enhancement.

Army PAs may qualify for fully funded post-graduate training programs in orthopedics, emergency medicine, cardiopulmonary perfusion or occupational medicine. In addition, fully funded masters and Ph.D. programs through certain civilian institutions are available for PAs interested in education, research or health promotion. Finally, Army PAs can participate in special training programs, such as advanced casualty care and aviation medicine, along with a wide range of conferences, seminars and short courses.

To maintain national certification, PAs must complete 100 continuing medical education hours every two years and take a recertification exam every six years. The Army requires and pays for their PAs to complete 100 continuing medical education hours every year.

The Army commits to helping PAs become qualified health care professionals. Whether practicing in a high-tech clinic or a field hospital, Army PAs are active in every aspect of patient care. Although Army PAs work under the supervision of Army physicians, they are the primary medical provider to Soldier units. They also provide one-on-one health care to Soldiers, family members and other eligible beneficiaries. Such duties allow Army PAs growth both personally and professionally.

Given projected physician shortages, Army PAs enjoy greater levels of responsibility, thus enabling career advancement. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projections released in February 2004, physician assistants rank among the fastest-growing occupations through the year 2012. The BLS predicts the number of PA jobs in the U.S. will grow by 49 percent from 2002 to 2012. Approximately 62,000 PAs hold jobs in the U.S.; more than 1,000 are in the military.

PAs in the Army receive and enjoy substantial benefits. In addition to frequent promotions and pay increases, Army PAs earn 30 days of annual leave. They have a choice between free on-post housing and a housing allowance. Furthermore, Army PAs and their families receive no or low-cost medical and dental coverage, and low-cost life insurance.

"I enjoy being an Army physician assistant," said Capt. James J. Jones, MPAS, PA-C. "We fulfill critical roles in all aspects of patient care. We perform initial lifesaving measures and save numerous Soldier and civilian lives. Army PAs truly matter."

To find out more, contact Captain James J. Jones, MPAS, PA-C, at 1.800.223.3735 ext. 6-0386 or email him at James.Jones4@usarec.army.mil.