What is PA?

A physician assistant (PA) is nationally certified and state licensed to practice medicine as part of a physician-led team. PAs are educated at the graduate level and practice in nearly every medical specialty and setting.  

What do PAs do?

• Conduct physical exams
• Diagnose and treat illnesses
• Order and interpret tests
• Counsel on preventive health care
• Assist in surgery
• Write prescriptions
• Make rounds in nursing homes and hospitals
• Obtain medical histories
• PAs responsibilities correspond to their supervising physicians practice.
   

Gore Health has been selected by Health Workforce New Zealand (HWNZ) as a demonstration site to trial the role of a Physician Assistant in the Emergency Department at Gore Hospital. In other countries Physician Assistants are post graduate health care professionals trained in a clinical role that complements both nursing and medicine, and work under the supervision of a senior doctor. The Physician Assistant role has been well established in the USA since it was introduced there 30 years ago and has been proven to be an efficient and cost effective means to deliver health care. 

Gore Health has employed USA trained Physician Assistant (PA), Lis Gammelin, from Wyoming USA. She arrived late November 2012 to work in our Emergency department for a two year term. Lis has worked as a PA for 9 years since she graduated from the University of England in Portland. Before coming to New Zealand Lis was employed as a PA by the Teton Valley Medical Centre Family Practice and Emergency Room.