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 Updated: 11/11/2004 |
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Various miscellaneous documents for PA's in Texas.
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Utilization of PAs in Response to Disasters in Texas
Health care professionals of many disciplines are needed to respond to any medical emergency or disaster situation that may arise in Texas. Physician Assistants (PAs) are well-recognized, skilled health care professionals who are willing and able to provide care in disaster situations. Unfortunately Texas state law does not contain the statutory language that would promote utilization or protect PAs in the event of a disaster. In a state where a significant number of rural health clinics are staffed by Physician Assistants, the need for PA utilization in the event of a disaster becomes even more critical. In fact, in some states such as Texas, PAs would be in violation of the law if they were to assist in emergency or disaster relief efforts.
The laws governing PA practice in Texas reflects the key principle of physician directed care through the Physician-Physician Assistant team. The Texas Academy of Physician Assistants (TAPA) and the PA profession endorse this important collaborative team concept. Yet, to allow PAs to respond to disaster circumstances and emergencies there is a need for exemptions in the state law to allow for the appropriate utilization and protection of these health care professionals.
Physician Assistant education occurs in accredited programs associated with medical schools and teaching hospitals including seven PA programs located in Texas. The education of PAs is based on the medical model with a focus in the primary care discipline. This generalist core of medical knowledge allows PAs from any practice discipline to be extremely useful in responding to medical needs created by unanticipated events that cause injury or illness.
TAPA supports the inclusion of statutory language that would allow Physician Assistants to provide emergency field response to illness, injury, or disaster. Important provisions needed to allow effective utilization of PAs in the event of a disaster include:
• Creating Good Samaritan immunity for PAs and any physician who may supervise them when they are helping victims of disasters outside of established medical settings and where remuneration will not be received,
• Waiving the requirement for physicians to file and receive approval from the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners when they are supervising PAs working in a disaster situation,
• Permitting PAs to respond to disaster and emergency situations with supervision by physicians who are also volunteering in these efforts,
• Permitting PAs to provide medical care in response to a disaster when no supervising physicians are available, and
• Permitting federally-employed PAs, and PAs who are licensed in other states, to provide medical care in the event of a disaster in Texas.
TAPA remains committed to the Physician-Physician Assistant team concept and the effective utilization of PAs in disaster situations. Many states such as California, New York, Arizona, Louisiana, North Carolina, Minnesota, and Iowa have already created statutory language to allow for utilization of Physician Assistants in the event of a disaster. The federal government recognizes the importance of PAs for this service by assigning PAs as medical officers in multiple Army Guard/Reserve rapid reaction Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) teams. These teams assist civilian authorities during disaster situations involving WMD's. TAPA advocates that Texas should also afford its citizens access to skilled health care professionals such as PAs in the event of a disaster.
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