ABSTRACT
Because much of health professions education in the US is publicly financed, the actions of politicians have profound effects on the organization of health professions education. The success of health professions education programs, therefore, depends in part on the ability of educators to advocate for change in the legislature. Successful legislative advocacy requires a general understanding of the legislative process and the needs of politicians combined with effective communications strategy. The tools of individual legislative advocacy include position papers, letter writing, politician meetings and visits, and using the media. Professional associations advocate on behalf of their members through coalitions, key contact programs, grassroots campaigns, and lobbyists. Successful legislative advocacy depends on credibility and the development of long-term relationships with members of the legislature. The process of legislative advocacy is straightforward and should be viewed as an integral part of health professions education.
Subject(s)
Human Rights , Public Health , Smoking/adverse effects , Tobacco Smoke Pollution/adverse effects , Diet , Ethics , Health Education , Humans , Life Style , Physician Assistants , Preventive Medicine , Tobacco Smoke Pollution/legislation & jurisprudence , Tuberculosis/epidemiology , Tuberculosis/transmission , United States/epidemiologyABSTRACT
Many PAs are grappling with the problem of how to best advance their careers. In this roundtable, the participants discuss traditional methods of advancement and examine the need for new models.
Subject(s)
Career Mobility , Models, Educational , Physician Assistants/education , Education, Medical/standards , United StatesABSTRACT
Growth and opportunity are the catchwords for the PA profession into the 1990s. Numerous changes can be expected, along with stimulating new challenges. Concern about the survival of the profession has waned. Current focus is on expansion of the profession to meet demands of America's changing health care delivery system. A distinguished panel of PA leaders discusses such issues as diversity within the profession, growth of hospital-based PAs, HMOs, public policy, PA education, the growing job market, and expanding roles of PAs.
Subject(s)
Physician Assistants/statistics & numerical data , Professional Practice/trends , Education, Graduate , Employment , Hospitals , Institutional Practice/trends , United StatesABSTRACT
Last June, the American Medical Association proposed creating the registered care technologist to ease the nursing shortage. There are similarities to the creation of physician assistants 25 years ago. Given the present PA shortage, the PA profession should note how medicine is solving the nursing crisis and take steps to increase enrollment in PA programs, lest a new provider be created to supplement PA roles.
Subject(s)
American Medical Association , Nursing Assistants , Nursing Service, Hospital , Physician Assistants , United States , WorkforceABSTRACT
This issue features a two interview series with the Presidents of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the American Association of Medical Assistants. HCSM was particularly interested in how they felt their professions would evolve in response to the impending oversupply of physicians predicted by GMENAC.
