American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) Jobs in and around Baltimore, MD

Company:
American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA)
Current Opportunities (0)
Company Website
Location(s):
950 North Washington Street
Alexandria,  VA
22314
Map Location
Phone:
(703) 836-2272
Fax:
(703) 836-8694
Industry:
Associations
Size:
50-99

Company Overview

The American Academy of Physician Assistants is the only national organization to represent physician assistants in all medical and surgical specialties. Physician assistants are certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) – a mark of professional accomplishment – and state-licensed. They are health professionals who practice medicine as members of a team with their supervising physicians. PAs deliver a broad range of medical and surgical services to diverse populations in rural and urban settings. As part of their comprehensive responsibilities, PAs conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery, and prescribe medications. Founded in 1968, the Academy works to promote quality, cost effective health care and the professional and personal growth of PAs.

Our Core Values:

Excellence

AAPA sets a high standard of performance and demonstrates competence in its actions and support of PAs. AAPA demonstrates innovation and vision as it enhances the visibility and value of the profession, while supporting and enabling PAs and their patient-centered focus. AAPA sets a high standard of performance for its staff and promotes the same as a standard for the profession. Ethics

In all of its activities, AAPA acts with integrity and civility with its members, business partners, and others. AAPA, by its example, encourages all PAs to adhere to the highest standards of professional behavior. Expertise

AAPA is recognized by PAs and the health care community broadly as the primary authority on issues related to the utilization and practice of PAs. AAPA promotes its members as experts in patient care, providers of innovative solutions to health care challenges, and knowledgeable members of the patient-centered health care team. Leadership

AAPA is at the forefront of critical and innovative thinking in its efforts to increase patient access to quality health care services. AAPA considers and moves forward creatively to advance the profession and improve health care. AAPA promotes and positions the PA profession to maximize its influence on health care policy, thus securing the future of the profession. AAPA supports continuous quality improvement. AAPA actively attracts recruits and retains member leaders and staff of different backgrounds and varying perspectives to ensure a diverse pool of qualified applicants when calling for leadership candidates. Member-Focus

AAPA’s paramount concern is to understand, appreciate, and respond to the unique needs and concerns of its members. AAPA always remembers that its sole reason for being is to serve its members and to support their efforts to serve their patients. AAPA uses its influence to gain recognition for the profession and for its members.

Our History:

In the mid-1960s, physicians and educators recognized there was a shortage and uneven distribution of primary care physicians. To expand the delivery of quality medical care, Dr. Eugene Stead of the Duke University Medical Center in North Carolina put together the first class of PAs in 1965. He selected Navy corpsmen who received considerable medical training during their military service and during the war in Vietnam but who had no comparable civilian employment. He based the curriculum of the PA program in part on his knowledge of the fast-track training of doctors during World War II.

On October 6, 1967, Duke University PA program graduated the first PA students who went on to start practicing as PAs. Today there are over 79,000 graduates of PA programs.

Physician assistants are health care professionals licensed, or in the case of those employed by the federal government they are credentialed, to practice medicine with physician supervision. As part of their comprehensive responsibilities, PAs conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery, and write prescriptions. Within the physician-PA relationship, physician assistants exercise autonomy in medical decision making and provide a broad range of diagnostic and therapeutic services. A PA's practice may also include education, research, and administrative services.

PAs are trained in intensive education programs accredited by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).

Because of the close working relationship the PAs have with physicians, PAs are educated in the medical model designed to complement physician training. Upon graduation, physician assistants take a national certification examination developed by the National Commission on Certification of PAs in conjunction with the National Board of Medical Examiners. To maintain their national certification, PAs must log 100 hours of continuing medical education every two years and sit for a recertification every six years. Graduation from an accredited physician assistant program and passage of the national certifying exam are required for state licensure.