PA Guide

Physician assistants have a significant role in emergency medicine. Whether in the rural emergency department or the urban Level 1 trauma center, PAs provide a unique skillset that complements any EM medical team to serve a comprehensive patient population. This page provides a brief overview of EM and a guide for PA students to prepare to enter EM after completing their graduate program.

Physician Assistants in Emergency Medicine:

Emergency medicine PAs work in a multi-tiered healthcare team and with their supervising physician to provide multifaceted patient care. PAs can perform a wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. For example:

·      Advanced Cardiac, Pediatric, and Trauma Life Support

·      Radiological studies

·      EKGs

·      Ultrasonography

·      Wound care

·      Laceration repair

·      Fracture reduction with cast and splint application

·      Peripheral venous and central line placement

·      Pericardiocentesis

·      Thoracentesis

·      Paracentesis

·      Intubation

The model of an emergency medicine center influences its patient intake demographic as well as the scope of a PA’s practice. While the emergency department is the most recognizable model, other EM PA employments include critical care units; neurocritical care units; urgent care clinics; chest pain or stroke centers; ground or air patient transport; and military or veteran health services. Additionally, the location of the emergency medicine center can influence a dominant subspecialty care and front-line interventions, such as trauma, pediatric, aerospace, disaster, burns, toxicology, and wilderness.

Because of the comprehensive patient population, emergency medicine intersects patient care with many other specialties, such as radiology, anesthesiology, orthopedics, cardiology/cardiothoracic surgery, neurology/neurosurgery, plastic surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry, and infectious disease.

During Your PA Program:

·      Focus on achieving high grades, especially if you plan to pursue an EM postgraduate program (more information below).

·      Request a second EM rotation and choose electives that will supplement your EM skills and knowledge, such as critical care, trauma, and surgery.

·      Begin networking with providers before and during your clinical rotations; attend local emergency medicine conferences if able.

·      Join EMIG to find like-minded students and supplement your education with high-yield lectures and skill clinics.

·      Consider pursuing a EM postgraduate program (more information below).

Qualifications for PAs to work in EM:

·      Graduate from an accredited physician assistant training program.

·      Pass the Physician Assistant National Certification Exam (PANCE).

·      Obtain state licensure and comply with state PA practice regulations.

·      Maintain qualifications through CMEs in emergency medicine.

·      Optional: become a SEMPA member and/or obtain a NCCPA EM Certificate of Added Qualifications.

PA EM Postgraduate Programs:

Postgraduate programs provide advanced education in a select medical or surgical specialty. Several currently exist for emergency medicine. The intense didactic and clinical training benefits PAs with advanced technical skill and knowledge for greater confidence, aptitude, and a higher starting salary. However, the drawbacks of a postgraduate program include additional time in education (most programs are about 12 months), additional tuition cost, and program location. While not necessary for PAs to enter EM, they do provide greater impetus for a PA career in EM.

The application process and requirements vary per program but generally consists of:

·      Graduation from an ARC-PA accredited training program

·      NCCPA certification prior to matriculation

·      Ability to obtain the state PA license

·      Personal statement or essay

·      3 letters of reference, usually including one from your PA program director

·      Official transcripts

·  Application fee

·      Interview

PA EM Residency/Postgraduate Programs in Texas:

·      Baylor University Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant Program, Houston, TX

o   https://www.bcm.edu/departments/emergency-medicine/education/emergency-medicine-physician-assistant-program

·      Baylor University Emergency Medicine Residency for active duty Army/ Air Force Physician Assistants, San Antonio, TX

o   https://www.baylor.edu/graduate/pa/index.php?id=936090

·      University of Texas Southwestern Emergency Medicine Advanced Practice Provider Postgraduate Certificate Program, Dallas, TX

o   https://www.utsouthwestern.edu/departments/emergency/education/app/

·      TeamHealth Emergency Medicine Advanced Practice Clinician Fellowship, Austin, TX

o   https://www.teamhealth.com/our-company/apc-fellowship/?r=1

·      For more information, visit the Association of Postgraduate Physician Assistant Programs: https://appap.org/

Resources:

Society of Emergency Medicine Physician Assistants: sempa.org

Associate of Postgraduate PA Programs: appap.org

Association of American Medical College: aamc.org

If you would like additional guidance please email us and we will get you in contact with a PA who is interested in EM.