Physician Assistants provide needed role in improving access and quality to
care for Canadians

OTTAWA , Jan. 22 /CNW/ - Physician Assistants (PA) are recognized as part of the solution to improved access to quality care for Canadians. PAs, civilian and military, are educated in university level programs accredited by the Canadian Medical Association according to a national standard. This national standard has been developed by the Canadian Association of Physician Assistants (CAPA) in consultation with various national stakeholders such as the Canadian Medical Association, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada , the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada , university medical schools, and clinically practicing Physicians. PAs practice within legislation in each province. Legislation is designed to meet the specific needs of the patient population in each province and ensures that quality care is delivered.

Physician Assistants play a desperately needed role in enhancing access to care for Canadians, improving patient satisfaction and relieving the stress currently experienced by our physician and nursing colleagues. The concept of Physician Assistants is supported domestically and internationally by the medical profession. The life skills and experiences brought to the first day of class contributes to the unique qualifications of Physician Assistants be it nursing, journalism, engineering, or life sciences. Those exceptional candidates who have started their PA education in Ontario University Programs will make significant contributions to the quality of health care in the near future. After an intense curriculum delivered over twenty-four months of continuous study, involving didactic and clinical exposure within a multidisciplinary healthcare team, Graduate Physician Assistants are required to successfully challenge an independently administered national certification examination. The PA model of medical education used in Canada has been developed from and builds upon the experiences of 40 years of PA education around the world.

Although relatively new to the Canadian civilian health care system, the Canadian Forces PAs have been providing outstanding care in adverse conditions for decades both domestically and internationally. The United States , the Netherlands , Scotland, England, and Australia have successfully utilized the Physician /Physician Assistant model in improving access to quality care. This same standard of training is provided to all PAs graduating from an accredited physician assistant program.

CAPA believes that quality care is achieved through the improved access attained in the physician/physician assistant model of care. For further information on Physician Assistants, their education, the national standard, certification process, and philosophy please visit www.caopa.net or contact the Canadian Association of Physician Assistants.

The Canadian Association of Physician Assistants (CAPA) is the national professional organization that advocates for physician assistants (PAs) and represents its membership across Canada and globally. It is committed to foster development of the physician/physician assistant model to assure quality care for Canadians.

For further information: Valoree McKay, Executive Director, Tel: [phone]