August 13, 2009
Physician Assistant Students to Become Associate Medical College Members Under Legislation Proclaimed Today: Oswald
Building on Canada’s first university-based, graduate-level physician-assistant program, Manitoba has now proclaimed legislation ensuring physician-assistant students will be governed by the high standards of medical professionalism of the province’s College of Physicians and Surgeons by becoming associate members of the college, Health Minister Theresa Oswald announced today.
As a result of amendments to the Medical Act, physician-assistant students will be able to get hands‑on patient care experience, providing valuable support to health-care practitioners and physicians in areas such as emergency rooms and surgeries.
“By holding physician-assistant students to a high standard through these legislative amendments proclaimed today, we are recognizing the important role they play in the future of our province’s health care,” Oswald said. “Manitoba’s physician-assistant program is creating a new annual stream of highly trained health professionals, improving care by allowing physicians to focus on more complex patient needs.”
The physician-assistant program trains health professionals who will work as part of a health-care team under the supervision and direction of a physician. They can perform a wide range of procedures including conducting patient exams, ordering diagnostic tests, undertaking minor procedures, and prescribing needed medications and treatments.
“The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba is delighted that the Government of Manitoba has introduced new legislation and regulations to create physician assistant students in the faculty of medicine, University of Manitoba, as associate members of the college,” said Dr. Bill Pope, registrar and chief executive officer of the college. “This will permit the students to be part of the college in the same way that undergraduate medical students are associate members of the college. Physician assistants are physician extenders and, as such, work in the closest of collaboration with members of the medical profession. Physician assistants will now be held to the same high standards as physicians. The college congratulates the government on this important initiative.”
Under the legislation, the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba will be allowed to register students enrolled in the University of Manitoba Physician Assistant Education Program in the faculty of medicine. Students will be registered as associate members and governed by the college’s high standards for medical professionalism.
Medical students and residents are already registered with the college under the Medical Act. The amendments extend registration to physician-assistant students. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Manitoba maintains the safe and ethical standards of medical practice in the province.
Every year, up to 12 candidates will be accepted into the two-year faculty of medicine program which includes both lectures and clinical-care courses. Graduates receive a master of physician assistant studies degree from the faculty of graduate studies. The first group of students began their studies in September 2008.
Over the last two years, the province has invested $2.9 million in the physician-assistant program. Manitoba is the only Canadian province with legislation in place to allow physician assistants to register and practise.
The minister noted physician assistants have been added to emergency-care teams in the Grace and Seven Oaks hospital emergency departments, a pilot project that marks a Canadian first.
The addition of physician assistants to the University of Manitoba Joint Replacement Group at Concordia Hospital has resulted in a doubling of primary joint surgeries performed each day.
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