PAs provide essential medical, surgical servicesPart of this article was reprinted with permission from the American Academy of Physician Assistants, 2004.On Oct. 6, physician assistants around the nation celebrated National Physician Assistant (PA) Week which extends from Oct. 6-12. On this day in 1967, the first physician assistants graduated from Duke University. Today, more than 50,000 PAs provide essential medical and surgical services to people from all walks of life. The MUSC PA Class of 2006 celebrated by providing free blood pressure screenings and conducted awareness and outreach work at the MUSC portico and College of Charleston. The group ended the week-long observance by participating in the Light the Night Walk, benefitting the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, at the Charleston Maritime Center on Oct. 14 in honor of individuals who are battling blood cancers. “As PAs, we are always trying to raise community awareness of our profession,” said Meredith Ditzel, PA student in the College of Health Professions, Class of 2006. In other related activity, the PA Class of 2005 just completed their year-long fundraising effort to purchase two automated external defibrillators in partnership with the Red Cross for use in two rural medical outreach clinics. The group raised $2,500 through logo sweatshirt and Nalgene water bottle sales, plus proceeds from their annual physician assistant golf tournament held in February. In addition, the group will donate $1,500 to the American Cancer Society in memory of departed parents of students. The PA profession—named the third-fastest-growing profession by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)—continues to show tremendous growth, with many PAs reporting high job satisfaction. The BLS projects that the number of PA jobs will increase by 49 percent between 2002 and 2012. The BLS predicts the total number of jobs in the country will grow by 15 percent throughout this decade. PAs are licensed professionals who practice medicine as delegated by supervising physicians. They provide patient-care services that would otherwise be performed by physicians. As part of their comprehensive services, PAs take medical histories, perform physical examinations, order and interpret lab tests, diagnose and treat illnesses, suture lacerations, assist in surgery and write prescriptions. As highly-trained providers of quality, cost-effective medical care
to millions of patients, physician assistants work to ensure that everyone
has the ability to understand and make important health care decisions.
S.C. Academy of Physician Assistants wins national awardThe South Carolina Academy of Physician Assistants (SCAPA) received a national award of excellence from the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA). The SCAPA received the award in the medium constituent organization category for outstanding growth in membership, continuing medical education offerings, and revenue over the past two years.The award was presented to SCAPA President C.J. Parris of Chapin in Alexandria, Va., on July 30. In addition to receiving a plaque, SCAPA was presented with a check for $2,500. In accepting the award, Parris credited SCAPA’s growth to previous leadership and the hiring of Meetings, Management, & More as SCAPA’s association management team. The AAPA Constituent Organization Awards of Excellence are given to constituent organizations of the Academy that have made gains in chapter and leadership development through the past year. Within South Carolina, there are approximately 400 physician assistants
who are dedicated to improving and increasing access to care. This is the
second time in four years that SCAPA has received this prestigious award.
Friday, Oct. 15, 2004
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