Introducing Physician Associate Roles to LHCH
In April a new team of eight Physician Associates (pictured above with their LHCH mentors and the Project Manager) commenced their roles within the Knowsley Community Respiratory Service as part of the Cheshire and Merseyside Respiratory Improvement Programme.
What is a Physician Associate (PA)?
PAs are healthcare professionals with a generalist medical education who work alongside doctors, physicians, GPs and surgeons to provide medical care as an integral part of the multidisciplinary team.
The Physician Associates are dependent practitioners working with consultant supervision but are able to work autonomously with appropriate support.
Supervision of a qualified PA is similar to that of a doctor in training or trust grade doctor, in that the PA is responsible for their actions and decisions. However, the consultant is the clinician ultimately responsible for the patient. Due to the lack of statutory regulation, PAs cannot currently prescribe medications.
LHCH will provide clinical leadership, educate, support and supervise the PAs in their roles and work to create workflows in partnership with primary care providers. The PAs will be mentored by Dr Sarah Sibley, Clinical Lead for Community Respiratory & Respiratory Consultant, Samantha Pilsworth, Consultant Physiotherapist and Emma Rickards, Respiratory Nurse Consultant.
What will Physician Associates do?
The Physician Associates will:
- Champion Respiratory Care
- Share Respiratory Expertise
- Provide excellent COPD Care
- Support and educate to encourage self management
The new team of PAs are looking forward to commencing their work in the community and working closely with primary care settings such as GP surgeries in
June 2019.
For more information about this programme of work please see below or contact Natasha Odita, Cheshire and Merseyside Respiratory Programme Project Manager on 0151 600 3090.