AMA to Examine the Ethics of PAs Employing Supervising Physicians
The AMA House of Delegates adopted a resolution asking the AMA to look at the ethics surrounding physician extenders employing their supervising physicians.
HOD ACTION: Resolution 13 adopted.
This resolution asks the AMA to define the ethical boundaries applicable to physicians supervising or collaborating with physician extenders while concurrently employed by the physician extender.
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First, if the AMA decides that it is unethical to for a supervising physician to be employed by her or his physician extender, it could make it difficult for PAs who their own clinics and must employ physician supervisors to exist.
Second, what's with this "physician extender" language? Didn't the AAPA House of Delegates just politely ask that people refer to PAs as "physicians assistants" and not lump them in with other providers?
The AAPA HOD adopted the following resolution less than a month ago in San Antonio.
The AAPA believes that, whenever possible, PAs should be referred to as “physician assistants” and not combined with other providers in inclusive non-specific terms such as “midlevel practitioner”, “advanced practice clinician”, or “advanced practice provider”
And be it further resolved:
PAs should utilize, and encourage employers (e.g., hospitals, HMO’s, clinics), third party payers, educators, researchers, and the government, to utilize, the term “physician assistant” or “PA” to reflect the unique position of PAs in the healthcare system
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