Among the titles that I have heard for our profession, the most recent -- which I had not heard previously -- was coined at a recent meeting: "Pathologist Assistant." For 30+ years, I have considered myself a Pathologist's (or maybe Pathologists') Assistant. The exact title has been a source of discussion between and among PAs. I must admit that I dismissed the new version when I first heard it but, after giving it some thought I began to believe that this might actually be one of the better titles.
I know that it might seem ludicrous to be considering what we're called when we have practised for so many years. This again illustrates that SO very little has been done for our profession.
"Pathologist's" (singular) Assistant has heretofor been my favourite version. The justification is that at any given moment, I am assisting one, not multiple, pathologists. The title has a more applicable, more immediate context in this form. Further, this version can be used to apply to those PAs who work with just one, or very few, pathologists, as well as those who work with multiple pathologists. Members of the AAPA prefer "Pathologists' " (pl.) Assistant (I have yet to hear a substantive rationale other than the fact that the AAPA uses this version).
I am interested to know what you, Canada's PAs, think. Please cast your vote by posting a comment to this item, anonymously if you prefer.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Credentialing, etc.
In response to Norman Poch's comments:
With my move from east to west, I must beg your pardon; I have misplaced your contact information. If you could remind me, I shall add you to my personal contact list.
I repeat that the CSMLS is not the group to take certification of PAs forward; paying your dues to this group DOES NOT impart professional status. We expect to go the route of the CMA Accreditation Office (see http://www.cma.ca/index.cfm/ci_id/19316/la_id/1.htm). I do not discount OJT PAs, I am one myself. Rest assured that all PAs currently practising will be grandmothered/fathered in some way which (thankfully) will not be decided by you or me (I can't imagine how difficult a task that must be).
Please remember that the over-riding reason for establishing minimum credentials; for certifying those individuals who have successfully attained those credentials; for becoming recognised by a college within the province (and paying the tax-deductible dues to that college); for ensuring continuing education; etc. etc. are all for the protection of the public, those who we serve.
I'd suggest that, as professionals, PAs ask our employers to pay the dues for membership to the CAP and to our provincial college (once they recognise PAs).
Please allow me to recount what was, for me, an amusing news item on CBC Radio. The interviewee was aghast at the fact that there were no educational requirements and no standards for house inspectors. I had to chuckle as I drove to work. If the public only knew! Norman, if you have a look at the principles which define any quality management system, you'll see that one of the over-riding principles is that all those who are providing a service (in this case, healthcare) must do as they document (ie. have procedure manuals) and document what they do (ie. produce a consistent, accurate report). To achieve this, among many other things, those who provide the service must have training (and documentation of that training), performance appraisals and continuing education. The member of the public who walks through our healthcare door must be able to do so with the assurance that they will receive the very best, most consistent care that s/he can possibly receive. And if s/he doesn't? What are we here for?
It may not have been long since all MLTs were OJT but they have all been certified since I've been in the business of being a PA. I guess everything's relative.
It doesn't surprise me at all that a number of PAs, including yourself, were missed by the CAP's survey. Please make your (and anybody else who was missed) presence known to them. They will not be surprised either, I'm sure.
With my move from east to west, I must beg your pardon; I have misplaced your contact information. If you could remind me, I shall add you to my personal contact list.
I repeat that the CSMLS is not the group to take certification of PAs forward; paying your dues to this group DOES NOT impart professional status. We expect to go the route of the CMA Accreditation Office (see http://www.cma.ca/index.cfm/ci_id/19316/la_id/1.htm). I do not discount OJT PAs, I am one myself. Rest assured that all PAs currently practising will be grandmothered/fathered in some way which (thankfully) will not be decided by you or me (I can't imagine how difficult a task that must be).
Please remember that the over-riding reason for establishing minimum credentials; for certifying those individuals who have successfully attained those credentials; for becoming recognised by a college within the province (and paying the tax-deductible dues to that college); for ensuring continuing education; etc. etc. are all for the protection of the public, those who we serve.
I'd suggest that, as professionals, PAs ask our employers to pay the dues for membership to the CAP and to our provincial college (once they recognise PAs).
Please allow me to recount what was, for me, an amusing news item on CBC Radio. The interviewee was aghast at the fact that there were no educational requirements and no standards for house inspectors. I had to chuckle as I drove to work. If the public only knew! Norman, if you have a look at the principles which define any quality management system, you'll see that one of the over-riding principles is that all those who are providing a service (in this case, healthcare) must do as they document (ie. have procedure manuals) and document what they do (ie. produce a consistent, accurate report). To achieve this, among many other things, those who provide the service must have training (and documentation of that training), performance appraisals and continuing education. The member of the public who walks through our healthcare door must be able to do so with the assurance that they will receive the very best, most consistent care that s/he can possibly receive. And if s/he doesn't? What are we here for?
It may not have been long since all MLTs were OJT but they have all been certified since I've been in the business of being a PA. I guess everything's relative.
I agree with you that credential-creep seems to be all pervasive. Please see my comment in the preceeding post. I feel that an MSc is more than what's needed; especially if the BSc is earned in Canada. The bottom line...no matter what degree you have, you know next to nothing until you actually start doing hands-on bench work. Get the foundation; start building, and the sooner the better. The longer people stay in school, the more (and justifiably) they will expect in salary (the less likely hospitals will want to hire them).
Thank-you for your comments. Please stay in touch.
PA Forum, Vancouver, April 12, 2006
I was encouraged and pleasantly surprised by the attendance and interest taken by all attendees (stakeholders) at the one-day forum in Vancouver held on April 12, 2006. The event was hosted, and well organized, by the Provincial Laboratory Coordinating Office (PLCO http://www.plco.ca ), the British Columbia educational authority and the CAP. I had the considerable pleasure of meeting Dr. D. Banerjee at the meeting.
The distribution of PAs throughout the country and throughout the continent was presented. Kent Neuert, BSc, PA(ASCP), Vancouver Children’s Hospital presented his personal experience. It was great to finally meet face to face with someone with whom I have exchanged a number of emails over the last year or so. I am sorry that we didn’t actually have time to talk; maybe at the AAPA meeting…I hope!
The group broke up into smaller groups to discuss the definition of a PA (as given in the CAP’s position statement...at http://www.cap.medical.org/position_statement_assistants.htm ) and the educational requirements were also considered. The consensus was that a Masters degree should be required. Personally, I feel that a BSc (earned in Canada) is sufficient, with the qualification that a number of specific courses (eg. anatomy) be required (eg. replace organic chemistry with anatomy…now that would be a welcome relief!) and that a practicum (~1 yr) be added afterwards.
It is very encouraging to know that the CAP recognises PAs and is willing to accept us in their group. They will not (nor should they) take on any of the responsibilities for the organization of our group; we will have to do that. I am hoping that they may at least help to direct our efforts (eg. how do we go about electing an executive?). We’re all pretty new at this and can use any and all help offered.
I am very appreciative of the PLCO’s efforts in organizing this ground-breaking meeting. In fact, I’m sure that I won’t truly understand the importance of this until a few years from now. I have been a PA for so long and it has been so long that nothing has been done. Little did I know that coming to BC would open this door. Thank-you Barbara and thank-you Roy.
The distribution of PAs throughout the country and throughout the continent was presented. Kent Neuert, BSc, PA(ASCP), Vancouver Children’s Hospital presented his personal experience. It was great to finally meet face to face with someone with whom I have exchanged a number of emails over the last year or so. I am sorry that we didn’t actually have time to talk; maybe at the AAPA meeting…I hope!
The group broke up into smaller groups to discuss the definition of a PA (as given in the CAP’s position statement...at http://www.cap.medical.org/position_statement_assistants.htm ) and the educational requirements were also considered. The consensus was that a Masters degree should be required. Personally, I feel that a BSc (earned in Canada) is sufficient, with the qualification that a number of specific courses (eg. anatomy) be required (eg. replace organic chemistry with anatomy…now that would be a welcome relief!) and that a practicum (~1 yr) be added afterwards.
It is very encouraging to know that the CAP recognises PAs and is willing to accept us in their group. They will not (nor should they) take on any of the responsibilities for the organization of our group; we will have to do that. I am hoping that they may at least help to direct our efforts (eg. how do we go about electing an executive?). We’re all pretty new at this and can use any and all help offered.
I am very appreciative of the PLCO’s efforts in organizing this ground-breaking meeting. In fact, I’m sure that I won’t truly understand the importance of this until a few years from now. I have been a PA for so long and it has been so long that nothing has been done. Little did I know that coming to BC would open this door. Thank-you Barbara and thank-you Roy.
Other business: please be aware that the British Columbia Interior Health Authority has an opportunity for a full-time PA in Penticton and a 21-week maternity leave for a PA (posted on the CAP website http://www.cap.medical.org/ad_pathologist_assistant_interior_health_bc.htm as well as on the AAPA website).
Monday, April 10, 2006
SPREADING THE WORD
Last week, I was delighted to make the acquaintance of a PA in deepest, darkest Edmonton; one of several in that city that had been missed by the CAP’s PA search last year. Thank-you for volunteering to contact the others so that they too might make their presence known. If there are others elsewhere in the country who were missed, I encourage you to make your presence known to the CAP so that they can have as complete a list of Canadian PAs as possible.
I’m off to Vancouver on Wednesday at the invitation of the CAP, the PLCO (BC’s Provincial Laboratory Coordinating Office) and BC’s educational authority to attend a one-day stakeholders’ forum on the subject of education, distribution and regulation of PAs in this province. I’m really hoping that something substantive can come of this meeting. I’ll let you know what I learn at the meeting soon.
Please be aware that there is a 1.0 FTE PA position (paid at MLT III level) in Penticton available at present. The job is listed on the Interior Health website (http://www.roomtogrowbc.ca/showcaseopps.asp), the AAPA site (www.pathologistsassistants.org) and will soon be on the CAP site as well (www.cap.medical.org).
I’m off to Vancouver on Wednesday at the invitation of the CAP, the PLCO (BC’s Provincial Laboratory Coordinating Office) and BC’s educational authority to attend a one-day stakeholders’ forum on the subject of education, distribution and regulation of PAs in this province. I’m really hoping that something substantive can come of this meeting. I’ll let you know what I learn at the meeting soon.
Please be aware that there is a 1.0 FTE PA position (paid at MLT III level) in Penticton available at present. The job is listed on the Interior Health website (http://www.roomtogrowbc.ca/showcaseopps.asp), the AAPA site (www.pathologistsassistants.org) and will soon be on the CAP site as well (www.cap.medical.org).
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