I can completely understand how upsetting it is to see the comparison of (my dr,)Is a nurse practitioner. It does in fact mislead one to believe the training is equal.
Again, I ask that you Please do not lump PAs in w the aggressive nature of the ANA. PAs are trained in medicine by physicians and we also understand the benefit of your extensive education.
As far as a PA supervising another PA. I'll give an example of how/why that needs to be worded like that. If you are going to have a PA oversee the training of newly employed PA grad, the PA needs an "independent" license to be responsible for the actions of training this new grad in the position of a PA. A doc doesnt always have time to train and/or there are multiple docs (I once had about 50 supervising physicians!) So that wording will give an APP/midlevel provider department the ability to provide some continuity in training. That wording will lead a PA into a PA position wo conveying legal responsibily to the physician. A dr can supervise/train a dr, a nurse can supervise/ train a nurse. Why cant a PA supervise a PA? It affords us structure similar to residents. The attending is still the full fledged licensed physician, the PA maybe one of say 20 years experience such as myself, has the ability to supervise the new grad and direct them into the roll of a PA. I've been around the block. Trust me, some days I think "I should have went to med school, some days I think, thank god I'm not the dr. But every single decision I make as a PA is as a PA.
PAs are very well trained in their limitations and I agree on a fellowship or a short leash for a couple years. While I'm educating students i always emphasize the fact that because you've seen it doesnt mean you can do it. I also teach them how to make a judgement on whether they should treat a condition, rx a med, do a procedure, etc. I have them ask themselves 3 things. Have I been formally trained? Would a PA in a similar practice do this? Am I equipped to manage the complications and if not, who? If a PA cant answer yes, then they shouldnt be doing it. PA programs, myself, and experience teach PAs what their boundries are and we do know when to defer/refer.
We really need support guys. Honestly, docs should really support PAs to help preserve medicine and their own practice as well. "Independent" type PA practice just keeps us employed through hospital systems. I'd say 99.99% of the PAs I speak to, do not want to break ties w drs. Why would we? Who wants to hang a shingle, nearly every doc I know is part of a health system because you cant make it in private practice. However I do see alot of posts by PAs on forums saying they cant get jobs now. Ive seen a landslide of PA jobs turn NP only. Not due to training, but legislature. All I ask is that if you have an opportunity to support us, please consider these situations and write an email to your lawmaker in support of it. PAs are definitely not the enemy.
