British Columbia is among the last holdout provinces in regard to the licensing and regulation of physician assistants, but recent developments suggest the integration of PAs into the B.C. health-care system is nearing reality.

Physician assistants are health-care professionals who work with physicians to provide health care. Under the overall supervision of a physician, PAs take histories, conduct physical examinations, order and interpret tests, diagnose and treat illnesses, counsel on preventive health care, and may assist in surgery.

PAs could help alleviate the health-care crisis in the province, particularly in the rural communities that have been among the hardest hit.

91裸聊视频淪ome of the comments that (health minister) Adrian Dix made in health (budget) estimates on April 26 and 27 to Shirley Bond (opposition critic on health for BC United and MLA for Prince George- Valemount) and Sonia Furstenau (BC Green Party leader) indicate as much,91裸聊视频� said Lisa Stewart, B.C. director of the Canadian Association of Physician Assistants. 91裸聊视频淚 do believe there has been a lot of outside pressure and forces influencing, or at least causing him to respond with a little bit more openness. Definitely, the door has been opened, and we91裸聊视频檝e been busy trying to nudge it open further.91裸聊视频�

The talks on April 26-27 included physician assistants. At those meetings, Dix confirmed that the licensing and regulation of physician assistants is currently being addressed by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC.

91裸聊视频淲hen they (College) get back to the ministry of health, they will revisit it, but the CPSBC, to be honest with you, is saying 91裸聊视频榳e are ready. Just give us the green light. Tell us to go,91裸聊视频�91裸聊视频� said Stewart.

Dr. Heidi Oetter, registrar and CEO of CPSBC, confirmed that they are in the early stages of policy work with the ministry of health on this matter.

Paul Adams, executive director of the BC Rural Health Network, has been working with communities seeking the integration of physician assistants into their health-care services. He acknowledged the limited availability of PAs but emphasized their readiness to work in under-resourced areas.

91裸聊视频淭hirty or 40 PAs could significantly impact both primary and acute care provision in several locations,91裸聊视频� said Adams. 91裸聊视频淎dding trained resources that are ready to deploy, especially those that are keen to work in smaller and more remote locations, just makes sense.91裸聊视频�

Stewart said that while there is still a lot of work to do, the latest developments are encouraging.

91裸聊视频淟ike I said, that door has been cracked open91裸聊视频� now we can keep the conversation going. It91裸聊视频檚 not a matter of 91裸聊视频榮hould PAs be B.C. now - it91裸聊视频檚 a matter of 91裸聊视频榳hen.91裸聊视频� There91裸聊视频檚 lots of work to do, but definitely, there is movement, which is really positive.91裸聊视频�

Every other province in Canada either currently has PAs within their respective systems, or has a plan in place to introduce them. There are also two new schools being created specifically for physician assistant training.

91裸聊视频淭he University of Calgary faculty of medicine is developing a program with 40 seats, and Dalhousie University is implementing a program with hopes of their first intake of students this fall, and that will be 20 seats,91裸聊视频� said Stewart. 91裸聊视频淪o there is a huge investment across the country. Saskatchewan and Newfoundland & Labrador just made recent announcements, and P.E.I and Quebec have plans in place, they just haven91裸聊视频檛 made the announcement yet. So B.C. is really the last province to move forward with this.91裸聊视频�

The BC Rural Health Network and the Canadian Association of Physician Assistants are both delighted with the initiation of licensing and regulation of PAs and look forward to the progress made toward integrating PAs into the healthcare team in British Columbia.

91裸聊视频淐onsidering national medical staff shortages, adequate care can be practically non-existent in rural and remote areas. This is where PAs can help,91裸聊视频� added Stewart.

91裸聊视频搘ith files from the BC Rural Health Network

terry.farrell@comoxvalleyrecord.com
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