"Physician assistants recognize that a prevention-first approach to care is critical to patients’ overall health and can save the nation millions in health care costs," said Dr. Richard Rahr, UTMB chair of the Department of Physician Assistant Studies "With an education modeled after that of doctors, we typically are able to spend more time with patients and their families, helping them to avoid new illnesses and to keep chronic conditions from becoming potentially dangerous and even more costly."

 

All physician assistants (PA) are educated and credentialed with a primary care focus, regardless of the specialty in which they choose to work. They practice across a range of medical settings and specialties as part of the health care team, and they add a generalist perspective to the care they provide by helping to identify warning signs and symptoms of chronic illness.

 

“We always honor and respect the tremendous contributions of physician assistants like those working at UTMB, but especially so during this week,” says AAPA President Robert Wooten. “Physician assistants across the country do an extraordinary job of making a difference in the lives of countless patients every day. This week in particular, we want to spread the word that they are integral to transforming patient care in America.”

 

National PA Week is observed each year from October 6-12. The week serves to celebrate the significant impact PAs have made and continue to make in health care, to expand awareness of the profession and to salute the outstanding growth of the PA profession. AAPA seeks to promote quality, cost-effective, accessible health care, and to promote the professional and personal development of physician assistants.

 

For more information about University of Texas Physician Assistant Studies Program in Galveston, visit www.utmb.edu. For more information about the physician assistant profession, go to the American Academy of Physician Assistants web page at www.aapa.org.