Dr. Kuo works full time at Veterans Affairs in New Orleans, Louisiana.
Explore This Issue
ACEP Now: Vol 41 – No 03 – March 2022References
- Guidelines regarding the role of physician assistants and nurse practitioners in the emergency department. 2020 June. https://www.acep.org/globalassets/new-pdfs/policy-statements/guidelines-reg-the-role-of-physician-assistants-and-nurse-practitioners-in-the-ed.pdf
Pages: 1 2 3 | Single Page
4 Responses to ““If Not Me, Then Who?””
March 20, 2022
John CastleI’m a military trained PA. I’ve been a PA for over 40 years. I’ve worked many of those years in the ER, as well as surgery and other specialties. I don’t really see the problem. I do NOT want independent practice. I’m not a doc and over my career lifespan I’m convinced that I’m pretty good, but I’m not THAT good. I like the security of having a “boss” and asking the boss for advice. I’m secure in my role and therefore don’t feel endangered by having someone looking at my work. For heaaven’s sake, the docs ask each other what to consider in some cases. Why can’t I? Ever since I graduated from my RN course (prior to PA), I hear the nurses bad-mouthing the docs and the fact that the nurse isn’t allowed to “think.” Then go to medical school. I won’t earn more if I’m independent and that’s really the bottom line for my family. NPs, get a life!
September 16, 2022
JAMIE H KUOThank you so much for this.
March 20, 2022
Clayton Moore PharmD, PA-CI’m quite interested in this article and the underlying scope of practice concerns. I myself am a licensed PA. I recently returned to medical school due to my desire for autonomy as well as the additional training and skills acquired from residency.
The mental torture of completing the didactic portion of medical school after going through PA school can not be understated, however. This is NOT from the standpoint of struggling to excel through the basic sciences, but from the standpoint of the loss of income, loss of clinical experience, and the regression of real world clinical skills. This does not even take into account the fact that most NP’s/PA’s including myself are into there 30’s or later in life before they can begin to entertain the idea of medical school. Family and life circumstances are obviously different than the average medical school applicant.
I strongly agree not all, if any, NP’s or PA’s should be permitted independent practice in the emergency room setting. The minimum standard is just not high enough and it creates a dangerous precedent. At the same time is a newly graduated family practice trained physician more equipped than an APP with 30 years of experience? I have worked with numerous APP’s that I would prefer to care for my family over non-emergency boarded physician.
I say all of that to say we have to come up with a better solution to get APP’s trained for independent practice. I don’t believe an APP’s cumulative training should be shorter than a physicians. I don’t believe there should be any short circuiting of licensing exams, residency, or other quality control measures. I do know that life happens differently for everyone. Some of us have to take circuitous paths to reach our goals.
An abbreviated bridge program serves multiple purposes. This program would allow the most talented APP’s to obtain independence, it highlights the point that APP’s do not find themselves equal to physicians just by the nature of creating the program, and it would actually decrease the provider workforce size while these individuals are going through the program.
Thanks for reading my soapbox. I’m happy to discuss.
September 16, 2022
JAMIE H KUOI would love to connect and hear updates on your medical school journey.