The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Vol 76, 639-642, Copyright © 1978 by The American Association for Thoracic Surgery and The Western Thoracic Surgical Association
Physicians' assistants on a university cardiothoracic surgical service. A five-year update
JI Miller and CR Hatcher
In 1973 two physicans' assistants (P.A.'s) were employed on a
cardiothoracic surgical service at Emory University Hospital. In 1974 our
initial experience with these paramedical personnel was presented to this
Association. Since that time eight additional P.A.'s have been added to our
service. They are now employed in four hospitals of the Emory University
Woodruff Medical Center. New guidelines and regulations have been imposed
at both the state and federal levels regarding P.A.'s, and their role in
our center has become rather well defined. With over 1,700 cardiac cases
and 600 thoracic cases per year to cover on our service, the P.A. has
assumed a position of increasing importance both in operating room
assistance and in preoperative and postoperative care. Since the university
has maintained a constant number of residents and fellows during this
interval, P.A.'s have filled needs of expanded clinical service in the
various hospitals. In the pediatric and community hospitals associated with
a university, the P.A. now functions as a junior house officer. In our
university center, with a large resident staff, their role has become
narrowed with definite guidelines. A Credentials Committee now governs the
hiring of all P.A.'s by the University. When properly utilized and
supervised, the P.A. can be a vital member of the cardiothoracic team. This
report details our experience with P.A.'s for the past 5 years--culminating
in a staff of ten P.A.'s working on our service in four types of hospitals
within our university medical center.
