Scopes of Practice....

[Beau Geste]

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[core0]

megboo Lately I've been doing a little more research on PAs, NPs, AAs, CRNAs, and more after reading the threads in this forum to gain better understanding of who they are and what they do. Unfortunately, as a physician hopeful, I'm making myself more and more confused!

I thought opening up a thread to discuss the various scopes of practice would be helpful for people like me or those interested in various fields to understand some of the similarities, differences, and unique attributes to the different clinical fields.

I've visted the various professional organization sites, but there's just SO MUCH information to digest out there, and hopefully you all in the working world can boil it down better.

So, depending on what profession you are, why don't you take a little time to answer the following questions:
Edited
1. What is your profession?
PA
2. What is your scope of practice (in a nutshell, or you could provide a link)
GI practice. I see consults, new patients and established patients. I see all conditions that come into the practice. My main emphasis is liver disease and HCV treatment.
3. How is this similar to a physician role?
pretty much the same.
4. How is this different from a physician role?
I do not do any endoscopy. I do some therapeutic paracentesis and assist with PEG's. I have been trained to do Flex sigs but would not recommend one.
5. What do you find unique about your profession compared with similar professions?
The scope is dependent on you willingness to learn and your SP's willingness to teach. I have progressed from simple consults and follow up to complex patients. I have been allowed to develop expertise in HCV.
6. What are some of the pros of your profession that you identify with?
I like that we are based in medicine. I also like the mobility inherent in the profession. I am currently looking at other positions and interviewed in a cardiac transplant program. There are few other medical positions with this kind of mobility.
7. What are some of the cons of your profession that you encounter on a regular basis or that concern you?
There is some agitation for more independent practice, which I disagree with. The supervision aspect may be a negative in some situations.
8. Feel free to add any other info.
Colorado Practice act:
http://www.dora.state.co.us/medical/rules/400.pdf
This is meant to be a thread for information and collaboration, so please no personal attacks, and no attacking other professions PLEASE

 

[adamdowannabe]

c0re:

I think she was hoping you would list YOUR job and YOUR scope of practice...

only Giving the general description of what a PA is.......isn't enough...

List your specialty...list what you do, what you aren't allowed to do........ how much different is your position then your SP.

It will give all readers a better understanding of what people are actually doing on a daily basis.....especially what PA's are doing!!!

 

[deleted6669]

1. What is your profession?
EMERGENCY MEDICINE PA

2. What is your scope of practice (in a nutshell, or you could provide a link)
PROVIDE CARE TO PTS WITH AMBULATORY/URGENT/EMERGENT COMPLAINTS
http://www.aapa.org/gandp/issuebrief/emergency.pdf

Question : What can a PA do in the emergency department? Are there any restrictions?
Answer: Physician assistants provide medical care with indirect physician supervision. The scope of practice of a PA is defined by state law and regulation (or in the case of federally employed PAs, by the federal employer); by facility policy; by the education, experience, and expertise of the PA; and by the determination of the supervising physician(s) about what will be delegated. PAs practice within the usual scope of practice of their supervising physician(s). In the case of a PA working in emergency medicine, the medical director of the emergency department, other supervising physicians and the PAs typically reach decisions about delegation jointly. Because medical practice and physician/PA practice are dynamic, specific lists of approved tasks that can be applied to all facilities and to all physician PA teams are not practical. There are not any "typical" restrictions on what a PA does in the ED. The physician/PA team and the hospital should be aware of any restrictions on the PA's scope found within state law or hospital policy.



3. How is this similar to a physician role?
DEPENDS ON SETTING. IN A BUSY TRAUMA CTR I SEE PTS WITH MODERATE ACUITY COMPLAINTS. IN THE SETTING OF A SMALLER DEPT WHERE I WORK ALONE MY SCOPE IS EQUIVALENT TO THE DOCS( I SEE EVERYTHING)

4. How is this different from a physician role?
IN THE TRAUMA CTR DOCS SEE EVERYTHING WHILE PA'S GENERALLY SEE EVERYONE EXCEPT MI/CVA/MULTISYSTEM TRAUMA.
REGARDLESS OF WHERE I WORK A SAMPLE OF MY NOTES NEED TO BE REVIEWED BY A DOC WITHIN 1 MONTH

5. What do you find unique about your profession compared with similar professions?
ABILITY TO CHANGE SPECIALTIES

6. What are some of the pros of your profession that you identify with?
SEE #5
GOOD SALARY ( avg em pa makes 90k, experienced em pa's can make > 125k)
GOOD TIME OFF( I WORK 18 DAYS/MONTH)

7. What are some of the cons of your profession that you encounter
VERY OCCASSIONAL CONFLICTS WITH( NON-EM) DOCS AND/OR PTS WHO DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE PA ROLE.

GENERAL EM PA INFO WWW.SEMPA.ORG

 

[jwk]

1. What is your profession?

Anesthesiologist Assistant (AA-C)


2. What is your scope of practice (in a nutshell, or you could provide a link)

AA's provide anesthesia services to patients in hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and other facilities under the medical direction of an anesthesiologist. They practice in all surgical specialties and subspecialties including cardiovascular, neurosurgery, pediatrics, and transplant. Depending on the practice, local custom, or state law, AA's may administer general or regional anesthetics, as well as provide sedation (MAC) for less invasive procedures, and they may place invasive monitors including central venous, PA, and arterial catheters.


3. How is this similar to a physician role?

AA's perform many of the same procedures as an anesthesiologist.


4. How is this different from a physician role?

AA's do not practice independently of an anesthesiologist.


5. What do you find unique about your profession compared with similar professions?

AA's practice under the "Anesthesia Care Team" mode of practice, where an anesthesiologist provides medical direction for up to four anesthetists at any given time. AA's are committed to this type of practice, believing that the best interests of the patient are served by having an anesthesiologist participate in the anesthetic management of every patient.


6. What are some of the pros of your profession that you identify with?

AA's are a high-demand profession - the career outlook is very bright for the forseeable future. Graduating AA students have their choice of job opportunities in a variety of practice settings. Starting salaries are in the high 5 or low 6 figures for 40-hr work week - overtime and pay for being on call, which is often required in hospitals with 24/7 surgery departments, can easily double this figure.

The work is diverse, with AA's working in a variety of different surgical specialties and a variety of settings, both urban and rural.


7. What are some of the cons of your profession that you encounter on a regular basis or that concern you?

AA's currently practice in 17 states and Washington, DC. There are two major hindrances to our expansion to all states. One is simply numbers - there are currently four AA schools, with a 5th opening next year, and at least one more the year after that. As the number of graduates increases, we will move into more states.

The other major roadblock as we attempt to enter any given state is vehement opposition by organized nursing in general and nurse anesthesia organizations in particular. It's simply an issue of dollars and cents and competition. Nothing more, nothing less.

8. Feel free to add any other info.

www.anesthetist.org

 

[kc222]

Does such a specialty/position exist?

 

[Chronic Student]

There are quite a few PA's who work in oncology. MD Anderson cancer center is one of the largest employers of PA's in the country.

-Mike