National Physician Assistant Week 2020 is upon us once again. This year more than ever, we want to recognize our physician assistants for the outstanding medical care they give to our patients every day.
Each year, October 6-12, we celebrate the Physician Assistant (PA) profession and all our physician assistants’ contributions. The first National PA Day was observed on October 6, 1987, and we continue to celebrate the many successes our PA clinicians have brought us. This year’s theme is ‘” PAs are Essential”—and SCP Health could not agree more.
There are currently over 130,000 practicing PAs in the United States, in multiple areas of medicine, including emergency medicine and hospital medicine. PAs continue to be ranked in the top three growing professions, year after year.
At SCP Health, we continue to be committed to our physician assistants’ development and growth and are always looking for innovative ways to utilize this talented workforce. As we continue to move forward this year, we would like to highlight advances that physician assistants have made through independent practice. SCP Health currently has 15 emergency medicine programs with independent physician assistants using remote only supervision.
While each state’s scope of practice drives independent physician assistant practice, more allow independent practice to help bridge the gap of physician shortages and physician assistants’ increased skill level.
Our physician partners have provided outstanding guidance and collaboration, helping us to expand our scope of practice and utilization in areas of need.
SCP is excited to highlight Jessica Amburgey, Lead PA with SCP Health at Appalachian Regional Health Care System in Kentucky. Jessica has been instrumental in the development and leadership of independent practice in rural Kentucky. This area has experienced physician shortages and demonstrated a need for high-level, qualified clinicians.
Appalachian Regional Health Care System now has three hospitals with independent practice for both NPs and PAs. All have been well received by our hospital partners, physician partners, and communities.
As we look to the future, SCP Health is committed to finding new and novel ways to grow our physician assistant provider population and further increase their utilization and scope of practice.
We would like to personally thank all our physician assistant colleagues for your commitment to excellent patient care and your contribution to our future. You are the reason for our continued success.
From SCP Health to PAs everywhere, we thank you for all you do and wish you a happy and healthy Physician Assistant Week.