Physician Associate/Assistant Program Medical Directors Are Important Advocates for the Physician Associate/Assistant Profession: Results From a National Pilot Study.

INTRODUCTION: This pilot study aimed to evaluate whether and how physician associate/assistant (PA) program medical directors play a role in advocating on behalf of PAs and what factors correlate with this. METHODS: The study used a mixed-methods grounded theory approach and was deemed institutional review board exempt. After literature review, a survey was developed and piloted by study personnel and faculty to affirm validity. Recruits with known email addresses were sent a link to a survey that included demographic information and 10 Likert scale questions. There were 69 respondents, and the response rate was 26%. Fisher's exact test and analysis of variance were performed using the R program. A P-value <.05 indicated significance. Thematic analysis of qualitative data was performed using ChatGPT, followed by iterative analysis by the research team. Consensus was achieved for each response. RESULTS: Most of the respondents had the following characteristics: MD degree, male, White, practicing clinically, and worked as PA medical directors 8 to 12 hours per week. Participants did not support PA title change, nor had they engaged in legislative efforts to support optimal team practice. Participants were strong PA advocates by promoting PA leadership positions, PA employment, improved attitudes in health care organizations toward PAs, and securing clinical rotations. Many respondents (41%) felt that none of their professional organizations supported them in their role as PA program medical director. DISCUSSION: Exploring ways to support continued advocacy by our valued PA program medical directors within PA professional organizations could be advantageous to PA program medical directors' professional growth and the PA profession.

Interprofessional objective structured clinical examination with physician assistant and pharmacy students - A qualitative and quantitative study.

BACKGROUND: To assess the impact of an interprofessional objective structured clinical examination (iOSCE) on attitudes/perceptions regarding interprofessional practice (IPP) and to determine if patient (simulated) outcomes improved with interprofessional collaboration (pharmacy and physician assistant (PA) students). INTERPROFESSIONAL EDUCATION ACTIVITY: A team of interprofessional faculty designed an iOSCE case and grading checklist containing key interventions. Students individually reviewed the case and were asked to document potential changes to the admission orders. Then they were given the opportunity to collaborate in an interprofessional team to discuss the case and orders. Finally, the team presented their recommendations to an interprofessional faculty panel. Individual and team scores were compared to determine the impact of interprofessional collaboration. The Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS) questionnaire was administered pre- and post-iOSCE to assess changes in opinions about interprofessional learning. DISCUSSION: Individual and team iOSCE scores for 187 students were evaluated (86 PA and 101 pharmacy). A 21% absolute increase in the number of key interventions was found when comparing average individual scores to average team scores (2.11/5 vs. 3.18/5, p < 0.001). While in aggregate the students had a positive attitude towards IPE pre-iOSCE, RIPLS responses were strengthened post-iOSCE. IMPLICATIONS: Through iOSCEs, it appears students can learn from and with one another to improve patient care and gain perspective on the roles/skills of interprofessional colleagues.

The use of intramuscular benzodiazepines and antipsychotic agents in the treatment of acute agitation or violence in the emergency department.

The management of an agitated, abusive or violent patient is a common and challenging problem in Emergency Medicine. Priorities include measures to ensure the safety of the patient and the emergency staff, including provision of physical restraint of the patient and evaluation for correctable medical causes of such behavior. Medications used in the treatment of such patients include benzodiazepines and antipsychotic agents. The newer atypical antipsychotic agents seem to provide a safe and effective treatment for such patients. The atypical antipsychotic agents may have fewer short-term side effects than older typical antipsychotic agents, such as haloperidol and droperidol. Currently available atypical antipsychotic medications for the treatment of acute agitation include ziprasidone and olanzapine, which can be administered in an intramuscular formulation, and risperidone, which is available in a rapidly dissolvable tablet and liquid formulation.