Comox Valley resident Trevor Stone is frustrated.

The Canadian veteran has a service to provide, but in British Columbia he含羞草研究社檚 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 含羞草研究社渁n extra set of eyes and ears for the doctors that we work under.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淚n a military setting, obviously physicians are very (stationary). They don含羞草研究社檛 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.含羞草研究社�

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 含羞草研究社渉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.含羞草研究社�

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 doesn含羞草研究社檛 recognize PAs as qualified civilian healthcare workers.

He said his own correspondence with provincial government sources have been less than promising.

含羞草研究社淓ven when I was still in the military, we were hearing comments like 含羞草研究社榳e can含羞草研究社檛 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 doesn含羞草研究社檛 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 that含羞草研究社檚 wrong. That含羞草研究社檚 not teamwork.

含羞草研究社淚t含羞草研究社檚 not the rank-and-file, not the healthcare workers who don含羞草研究社檛 want us there. It含羞草研究社檚 the policy writers. That含羞草研究社檚 my theory.含羞草研究社�

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.

含羞草研究社淢y (Canadian Armed Forces) reserve unit was in Victoria, I knew PAs, I worked with them, and that含羞草研究社檚 what got me interested in the PA trade,含羞草研究社� said Stewart. 含羞草研究社淎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. 含羞草研究社� But it still hasn含羞草研究社檛 happened. I含羞草研究社檝e been kind of stonewalled by my own province.含羞草研究社�

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.

含羞草研究社淲e have approached the minister of health in the past, but nothing has come to fruition,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淲e have been told that the physician assistant profession is just not a priority at this time. No formal reason has been given.含羞草研究社�

Black Press reached out to the ministry of health for response and was told the situation is being 含羞草研究社渕onitored.含羞草研究社�

含羞草研究社淭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,含羞草研究社� the ministry said in a prepared email statement.

含羞草研究社淭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 Canada含羞草研究社檚 Armed Forces.含羞草研究社�

Local politicians respond

Courtenay-Comox MLA Ronna-Rae Leonard said she is working with the ministry to resolve it.

含羞草研究社淧hysician assistants are skilled and capable, and I thank them for their service in the military,含羞草研究社� she said. 含羞草研究社淚 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.含羞草研究社�

North Island-Powell River MP Rachel Blaney, who serves as the veteran affairs critic, said a resolution is needed.

含羞草研究社淭hese are folks who are extremely highly trained含羞草研究社� across the planet, people have great things to say about our military含羞草研究社檚 level of training. I think this needs to be explored含羞草研究社� 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 let含羞草研究社檚 make it work.

含羞草研究社淗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 含羞草研究社� they are so needed.含羞草研究社�

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.

含羞草研究社淚 can含羞草研究社檛 put it into words how frustrating it is that we are still not able to work,含羞草研究社� said Stone. 含羞草研究社淭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 含羞草研究社� we can含羞草研究社檛 even give immunizations.含羞草研究社�

Stewart concurred with Stone含羞草研究社檚 sentiments.

含羞草研究社淲hen I look around and I see the need for even just one healthcare provider (in a given situation), it is incredibly frustrating,含羞草研究社� echoed Stewart. 含羞草研究社淭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. 含羞草研究社� why are we not working?含羞草研究社�

***

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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