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).
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