Comox Valley resident Trevor Stone is frustrated.
The Canadian veteran has a service to provide, but in British Columbia hesa国际传媒檚 deemed unqualified.
Stone is a physician assistant who joined the military as a medic. After several years of growing his skill set and practical experience, he qualified for the physician assistant course, at that time exclusively offered through the military. The course is a 24- to 26-month curriculum that includes a year of hands-on training.
He describes the job as being sa国际传媒渁n extra set of eyes and ears for the doctors that we work under.sa国际传媒�
sa国际传媒淚n a military setting, obviously physicians are very (stationary). They donsa国际传媒檛 have the ability to go out into the front lines, whereas we can go out closer to the front lines. We also serve in autonomous capacities on ships, submarines, service vessels deployed in northern remote locations in Canada and throughout the world. The key is that we work under the supervisory auspices of a physician.sa国际传媒�
While the genesis of the profession in Canada is in the military, it is now practised outside the Forces. Certification courses are available in Manitoba and Ontario, including one at McMaster University, which describes the profession as sa国际传媒渉ealth care professionals who work with physicians to provide health care. Under the overall supervision of a physician, PAs take histories, conduct physical examinations, order and interpret tests, diagnose and treat illnesses, counsel on preventive health care, and may assist in surgery.sa国际传媒�
After retiring from the Canadian military in 2006, Stone entered the civilian workforce as a physician assistant in Manitoba. Fourteen years later he moved to Vancouver Island to be closer to family and found out his qualifications are meaningless in B.C., which doesnsa国际传媒檛 recognize PAs as qualified civilian healthcare workers.
He said his own correspondence with provincial government sources have been less than promising.
sa国际传媒淓ven when I was still in the military, we were hearing comments like sa国际传媒榳e cansa国际传媒檛 even get nurse practitioners to reach their scope of practice, and until that happens, we are not entertaining any other professions. It seems to go back for several decades, but that doesnsa国际传媒檛 wash with me. There have to be other reasons. But the only reason I can think of is it has to be the policy writers in the province. I personally think they are trying to somehow protect one profession over the other, and thatsa国际传媒檚 wrong. Thatsa国际传媒檚 not teamwork.
sa国际传媒淚tsa国际传媒檚 not the rank-and-file, not the healthcare workers who donsa国际传媒檛 want us there. Itsa国际传媒檚 the policy writers. Thatsa国际传媒檚 my theory.sa国际传媒�
Comox PA has worked in Manitoba and Alberta
Comox resident Lisa Stewart attained her PA certification through the University of Manitoba 12 years ago.
She was a paramedic in Victoria when she made the decision to return to school. After completing the university program, Stewart began her career in Manitoba, then moved to Calgary, where she worked as a plastic surgery PA. Stewart recently returned to the Island and said her hope is to resume her career here. For now, she waits.
Stewart knew going in that the profession was not yet recognized in B.C., but was under the impression that would eventually change.
sa国际传媒淢y (Canadian Armed Forces) reserve unit was in Victoria, I knew PAs, I worked with them, and thatsa国际传媒檚 what got me interested in the PA trade,sa国际传媒� said Stewart. sa国际传媒淎t that time, everyone was very positive, back in 2010, that PAs would be recognized in B.C. So when I went to school in Manitoba, it was my hope that I would be able to move back to B.C. and start practising here. I thought, OK it might take a little longer than two years, but with all the expansion of the profession in other parts of Canada it just seemed natural that B.C. would join in. sa国际传媒� But it still hasnsa国际传媒檛 happened. Isa国际传媒檝e been kind of stonewalled by my own province.sa国际传媒�
Stewart continues to advocate for PAs in the province. She sits on the board of the Canadian Association of Physician Assistants as the director for B.C.
sa国际传媒淲e have approached the minister of health in the past, but nothing has come to fruition,sa国际传媒� she said. sa国际传媒淲e have been told that the physician assistant profession is just not a priority at this time. No formal reason has been given.sa国际传媒�
Black Press reached out to the ministry of health for response and was told the situation is being sa国际传媒渕onitored.sa国际传媒�
sa国际传媒淭he introduction of a new health profession requires careful consideration, management and significant resources to properly understand and address the inevitable team function issues that emerge from overlapping scopes of practice,sa国际传媒� the ministry said in a prepared email statement.
sa国际传媒淭he ministry recognizes the contributions physician assistants make to health care delivery as physician extenders. We continue to monitor their implementation in other provinces, and appreciate the dedication to service embodied by physicians assistants who served in Canadasa国际传媒檚 Armed Forces.sa国际传媒�
Local politicians respond
Courtenay-Comox MLA Ronna-Rae Leonard said she is working with the ministry to resolve it.
sa国际传媒淧hysician assistants are skilled and capable, and I thank them for their service in the military,sa国际传媒� she said. sa国际传媒淚 am committed to advocating for the needs of my riding, and am regularly engaging with both PAs and the ministry of health to find solutions that fit the healthcare needs of Courtenay-Comox.sa国际传媒�
North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney, who serves as the veteran affairs critic, said a resolution is needed.
sa国际传媒淭hese are folks who are extremely highly trainedsa国际传媒� across the planet, people have great things to say about our militarysa国际传媒檚 level of training. I think this needs to be exploredsa国际传媒� We know that the need is so high, across all of Canada. I hope this comes together quickly, because these are some of the most highly trained people we have in our country, and we desperately need help in terms of our healthcare system, so letsa国际传媒檚 make it work.
sa国际传媒淗aving worked with so many veterans, and also just being at the 19 Wing and doing activities there, these people are so efficient and well trained. We should be using them sa国际传媒� they are so needed.sa国际传媒�
Waiting it out
In the meantime, certified healthcare workers sit on the sidelines in this province knowing their skill sets are accepted elsewhere in the country.
sa国际传媒淚 cansa国际传媒檛 put it into words how frustrating it is that we are still not able to work,sa国际传媒� said Stone. sa国际传媒淭here is a problem here, and I and my colleagues deserve to be working anywhere we can in this province, alongside nurse practitioners, physicians, and other healthcare workers. There has been nothing more demoralizing for me and my colleagues sa国际传媒� we cansa国际传媒檛 even give immunizations.sa国际传媒�
Stewart concurred with Stonesa国际传媒檚 sentiments.
sa国际传媒淲hen I look around and I see the need for even just one healthcare provider (in a given situation), it is incredibly frustrating,sa国际传媒� echoed Stewart. sa国际传媒淭o know the skills that a PA has, to know how positive this profession has been in bridging the gap in other provinces, knowing that we can do the same thing here and B.C. sa国际传媒� why are we not working?sa国际传媒�
***
Part two of this series will look into specifics regarding how, and where, PAs could be of immediate help in alleviating the healthcare crisis in B.C.
terry.farrell@comoxvalleyrecord.com
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