sask. introduces leg. for licensing physician assistants
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saskatchewan is introducing legislative changes to allow a new profession of physician assistants to be licensed to practice in the province.
jeff roberson
/
the associated press
the saskatchewan government is moving ahead with its plan to allow for physician assistants, introducing legislative changes to allow for licensing.
as part of a health-care plan announced last fall to beef up staffing, the provincial government signalled back in september that it was pondering a new profession of physician assistants. the goal, according to a news release, is to help address some of the health-care resource demand and also provide a team based approach.
introduced in the legislature on thursday, the medical profession amendment act, 2023 will regulate physician assistants under the college of physicians and surgeons of saskatchewan and establish the scope of practice for the new profession.
physician assistants are currently allowed to work in alberta, manitoba, ontario and new brunswick.
health minister paul merriman said they’re part of a larger plan that also looks to enhance what nurse practitioners and doctors can offer.
“we’re looking at all of this,” merriman told reporters. “it’s not just physician assistants, it’s not just nurse practitioners, it’s the suite of primary care. when we look at physician-led primary care, this is a piece that gets it going to take some pressure off.”
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according to the release, physician assistants have additional advanced training from a recognized program in canada. they practice medicine under the supervision of a licensed physician, often within a multidisciplinary health team.
physician assistants (pas) are mostly used in primary care, long-term care, emergency medicine, cancer care, general internal medicine and surgical specialties. some of key duties include conducting patient examinations, prescribing medications, and ordering and interpreting tests.
merriman said they will be employed by the saskatchewan health authority and be stationed where “they’re going to be best utilized.”
nurse practitioners, or nps, who are considered more autonomous, can also diagnose and treat illnesses, order tests and prescribe medication. however, they have said previously they are being underutilized.
a survey conducted last year by the saskatchewan association of nurse practitioners found 35 per cent of part-time nps would like to be full-time. further, 10 per cent said they weren’t employed because jobs weren’t available. a total of 124 responded to the survey.
should their scope of practice be expanded, the association has said nps could help address strains in primary care.
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merriman said he’s having discussions with the group about expanding their scope of practice.
he said the government is also looking at expanding scope for advanced-care paramedics and pharmacists.
“we’re not just looking at one way of managing some of the issues that are out there. we’re expanding scope, we’re bringing new professions,” merriman said.
the ndp opposition has previously asked the government to launch training programs to help nps professionally develop, particularly in rural areas where they are needed most.
ndp health critic vicki mowat said pas could be part of the solution to alleviate pressures in primary care.
however, she said the government needs to implement system-wide change.
“this could be a solution but it’s a band-aid solution,” mowat said. “we need to make sure we have this primary care reform and that we have team-based care. ultimately, we have a shortage of family physicians in our province and we need people to have access to family medicine.”
canadian association of physician assistants (capa) director saskatchewan todd bryden is quoted in the release, saying, “this is a vital step in effectively introducing pas into the province at a critical time when the health-care system has been stretched to the limit.
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“regulating pas through the college of physicians and surgeons of saskatchewan means that pas in the province will be required to follow standards for competency, safety, and ethics like other regulated health professionals in the region. this ensures they are accountable for the care they provide, and the public is protected, further strengthening and lending credibility to the pa profession in canada,” he said, calling pas “an integral part of the health care team and will help enhance the capacity of our health care system.”
the provincial government is hoping the new position assists with reducing wait times, improving in-patient discharge rates, and decreasing length of hospital stays.
the provincial budget earmarked $1.3 million to create 12 physician assistant positions across the health care system for the first time.
in the lead up to the plan, the ministry of health consulted with key stakeholders, including the college of physicians and surgeons of saskatchewan, the saskatchewan medical association, and the canadian association of physician assistants, according to the release.
to become a pa, someone must first complete two to four years of undergraduate school and then complete a specialized pa program. there are three schools that offer pa programs, including two in ontario and one in manitoba.
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saskatchewan medical association president dr. john gjevre said the organization is “supportive in principle” of pas playing a role to complement care.
“this change will need to be done carefully and thoughtfully, to ensure that it enhances patient care,” he said in a statement.
the legislation will come into force upon proclamation.
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