A new Faculty of Physician Associates has been launched. The UK Association of Physician Associates (UKAPA), the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) and Health Education England (HEE), in conjunction with other medical royal colleges, have been working together over the past two years to set up the faculty.
It is hoped that the establishment of the faculty at the RCP will further strengthen and develop the close working relationship between doctors in many specialties and physician associates.
A physician associate (PA) is a dependent healthcare professional who has been trained in the medical model and works under the supervision of a doctor or surgeon. PAs obtain medical histories, conduct comprehensive physical exams, request and interpret tests, diagnose and treat illnesses and injuries, and can give preventive health advice to patients. Becoming a physician associate is increasingly popular as a career choice in the NHS, with around 230 physician associates currently practising in the UK, and six universities running physician associate courses nationally.
As part of the establishment of the faculty, work is under way to enhance education, training and CPD for physician associates. The faculty will also be responsible for organising certification and recertification examinations for PAs and accrediting university programmes, all in line with the DH Competence and Curriculum Framework for Physician Assistants (the former name for physician associates).
