The 55-page SB 1548 clarifies and updates 75 areas of state law to improve the ways that physician assistants (PAs) practice medicine. The bill was recently signed into law by Gov. John Kitzhaber and will be effective on July 1.
“PAs are a critical component to providing quality care to patients who need it,” said Oregon Society of PAs President David Greene, PA-C. “With the passing of this law, PAs can get back to focusing on providing quality care without worrying about obstacles and outdated regulations. We are grateful to elected officials in our state for embracing the value of PAs and improving the ways we care about our patients.”
PAs are nationally certified and state licensed to practice medicine in every setting and specialty. There are more than 1,000 PAs practicing in Oregon, a state that boasts four of Six Key Elements of a Modern PA Practice Act according to the American Academy of Physician Assistants. With Oregon’s unique combination of urban and vast rural geography, PAs are an integral component in the ‘best’ solution for access to quality care for Oregonians.
PAs perform physical examinations, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret lab tests, perform procedures, assist in surgery, provide patient education and counseling, and make rounds in hospitals and nursing homes. PAs are educated at the graduate level through an intense medical program wherein they are trained to diagnose, treat and prescribe. There are more than 95,000 PAs practicing medicine in hospitals, practices and all other medical settings and more than 6,000 PAs graduate from 187 accredited programs each year.
“We know there is great value in a patient-centered approach to healthcare,” said AAPA President Lawrence Herman, MPA, PA-C, DFAAPA. “As our nation’s healthcare system continues to evolve, it is critical that we empower PAs to practice medicine to the top of their license and education through smart legislation.”
