To stay up to date on the National movement for title change on the PA profession, visit https://www.aapa.org/title-change/general-faqs/ to see the progress.

Can PAs start to call themselves “physician associates” yet? 

PAs should continue to use “physician assistant” or “PA” as their official legal title in a professional capacity, particularly in clinical settings and with patients, until the jurisdiction governing their licensure and practice has formally adopted the title of “physician associate.” AAPA’s legal counsel, Foley & Lardner LLP, recommends that PAs refrain from representing themselves as “physician associates” at this time. Their view is based on the following:

• Implementing the new HOD policy is going to be complex and challenging and may take several years to complete. There are many considerations that require thoughtful due diligence to ensure we do not jeopardize any aspect of implementation. It would be unwise for the profession to appear to be out in front of legislatures and regulators at the local or federal level. The next few years of work will be critical and must be strategically undertaken.
• Prematurely using the term “physician associate” could subject the PA to a regulatory challenge or discipline from their licensing board or an attorney general’s office action.
• Employers or healthcare facilities where the PA has privileges could view the action as a violation of policy, procedure, or professional staff bylaws.
• There may be professional malpractice issues if adverse outcomes are linked to perceived “informed consent” violations from patients who claim they believed they were being treated by a physician. A malpractice insurer could use this as an excuse not to cover the claim.

COVID-19 VACCINE OVERVIEW FOR PHASE 1A HEALTHCARE PERSONNEL NOT AFFILIATED WITH A HOSPITAL OR HEALTH SYSTEM

BACKGROUND

Getting Pennsylvanians immunized with a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine is an essential step in reducing the number of virus-related cases, hospitalizations and deaths. The Pennsylvania Department of Health (Department) guides the distribution and administration of the COVID-19 vaccine throughout 66 of the 67 counties in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Philadelphia County receives independent federal funding and is establishing its own COVID-19  vaccination administration plan.

The Department’s goals are to prioritize persons, while the vaccine supply remains limited, who receive the vaccine to maximize benefits and minimize harms caused by the virus, promote justice, mitigate health inequities, and promote  transparency. In Phase 1A of the Department’s Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 Interim Vaccination Plan, the Department needs providers enrolled to provide the COVID-19 vaccine, which are hospitals, health systems, Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), and pharmacies, to vaccinate healthcare personnel not affiliated with a hospital or health system.

Interested healthcare personnel not affiliated with a hospital or health system should follow the steps outlined in this document to receive the COVID-19 vaccine during Phase 1A.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF HEALTHCARE PERSONNEL AND THEIR EMPLOYER

Enrolled hospitals, health systems, FQHCs and pharmacies have been directed in the Vaccination of Community Healthcare Personnel Order to designate at least 10 percent of each vaccine shipment for vaccination of Phase 1A healthcare personnel not affiliated with a hospital or health system. Local county or municipal health departments (CMHDs) may also be offering vaccination clinics to only healthcare personnel not affiliated with a hospital or health system.

1. IDENTIFY WHICH TYPE OF ENROLLED COVID-19 VACCINE PROVIDER IS MOST APPROPRIATE
   To streamline the vaccination process and vaccinate all persons in Phase 1A as quickly as possible, healthcare personnel or their employer should identify, to the best of their ability, one enrolled COVID-19 vaccine provider that can accommodate their vaccination needs. Contacting more than one enrolled provider could cause delays in receiving the vaccine for all healthcare personnel in Phase 1A.
     • Emergency Medical Services (EMS) organizations identified in Phase 1A should work with the hospital with which they have a primary affiliation or to which they routinely transport patients.
     • All other healthcare personnel in Phase 1A not affiliated with a hospital or health system should work with an enrolled hospital, health system, FQHC or pharmacy in their jurisdiction.
2. FIND A PARTICIPATING LOCATION
   A map of enrolled hospitals, health systems, FQHCs and pharmacies vaccinating healthcare personnel, including facility contact information, can be found on the Department’s website. Healthcare personnel should reach out to the listed contact information to schedule a vaccine appointment.
3. CALL FOR PATIENCE AND PRIORTIZE STAFF
   The vaccination process must be orderly and not overwhelm the capacity of the facilities providing the vaccination  services. Vaccination of all Pennsylvanians, including those healthcare personnel in Phase 1A not affiliated with a  hospital or health system, depends on the vaccine supply. Initial supply of vaccine is expected to be limited in comparison to the demand and there will not immediately be enough vaccine to immunize everyone in Phase 1A. Estimates of the number of healthcare personnel in Pennsylvania approach 1 million individuals. Employers of healthcare personnel not affiliated with a hospital or health system must prioritize staff to receive vaccine consistent with the Phase 1A sub-prioritization guidance found in Pennsylvania’s COVID-19 Interim Vaccination Plan.
4. SCHEDULE FULL VACCINE REGIMEN
   A vaccine provider shall provide the brand and date of the vaccination given to each individual vaccinated, along with the COVID-19 vaccine reminder card that provides a date for a return appointment for the second dose of vaccine. It is the responsibility of the healthcare personnel, not the vaccine provider, to maintain the scheduled appointment for the second dose, with the vaccine provider. Both the Moderna and the Pfizer BioNTech vaccines require two doses: a  priming dose, followed by a booster shot. The interval between Moderna doses is 28 days; for the Pfizer vaccine, the interval is 21 days.
5. PROVIDE NECESSARY DOCUMENTATION
   Healthcare personnel not affiliated with a hospital or health system must provide proof of occupation to receive a vaccine. This could include a state license or certification, letter from the employer on organization letterhead, facility identification/security badge, group listing on employer letterhead, or other proof of occupation. Although vaccination information will be reported to the Department by vaccine providers, all healthcare personnel or their employers are requested to track vaccine participation and keep records of those who accept and those who decline vaccination.

RESOURCES FOR MORE INFORMATION
The Pennsylvania COVID-19 Interim Vaccination Plan can be found on the Department’s website.
More information on COVID-19 can be found on the Department’s website: www.health.pa.gov

03/18/2020

Licensed Health Care Practitioners Can Provide Telemedicine Services to Pennsylvanians During Coronavirus Emergency

Harrisburg, PA — Health care professionals licensed under any of the Department of State’s Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs (BPOA) licensing boards can provide services to patients via telemedicine during the coronavirus emergency.

“Telemedicine provides health care professionals flexibility to continue treating their patients while following best practices on social distancing as outlined by the Department of Health,” Secretary Boockvar said. “The department requested, and Governor Wolf granted us, the authority to allow health care professionals from out-of-state to treat Pennsylvania residents using telemedicine, when appropriate, due to COVID-19.”

This new guidance applies to the following boards:

• Chiropractic
• Dentistry
• Medicine
• Nursing
• Optometry
• Pharmacy
• Podiatry
• Psychology
• Osteopathic Medicine
• Nursing Home Administrators
• Occupational Therapy Education and Licensure
• Physical Therapy
• Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and Professional Counselors
• Examiners in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology
• Veterinary Medicine

Currently, no Pennsylvania law prohibits the practice of telemedicine.

Additionally, the department is working with the governor’s office, the Department of Health and Department of Human Services to identify regulations and requirements that can be suspended to give medical providers and facilities the flexibility they need to respond to the crisis. We will publish these notifications on our website as they become available.

Governor Wolf also granted the department’s request for a suspension to allow licensed practitioners in other states to provide services to Pennsylvanians via the use of telemedicine, without obtaining a Pennsylvania license, for the duration of the emergency. Out-of-state practitioners must:

• be licensed and in good standing in their home state, territory or country.
• provide the Pennsylvania board from whom they would normally seek licensure with the following information prior to practicing telemedicine with Pennsylvanians:
  • their full name, home or work mailing address, telephone number and email address; and
  • their license type, license number or other identifying information that is unique to that practitioner’s license, and the state or other governmental body that issued the license.

Please submit the information requested above to the appropriate board resource account listed on the BPOA website.

All practitioners using telemedicine in Pennsylvania must remain informed on all federal and state laws, regulations and guidance regarding telemedicine, including a practitioner’s obligations under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and recent guidance provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesOpens In A New Window.

Authorization to engage in telemedicine from a professional licensing standpoint is separate and apart from any insurance coverage/payment issues that fall under the Department of Health, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Insurance, or any other state or federal agency.

The Department of Human Services issued guidance for Behavioral Health Services Telemedicine here. The Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs released Telehealth guidance for their programs and providers here

Our top priority is and will continue to be the health and well-being of the citizens of Pennsylvania and the many dedicated members of the Pennsylvania Society of Physician Assistants. We are committed to safety first, so out of concern for our members and the patients they meet and treat daily throughout the Commonwealth, the Board of Directors has decided to suspend all in-person events for a period of at least 30 days from March 14, 2020.

Examples of in-person events may include: regional dinner meetings, committee meetings, liaison meetings, director meetings, etc.

Please… vigilance is of vital importance. Educate all those you meet.  Here are some facts regarding COVID-19.

• Coronavirus is a group of diverse, common viruses that includes some causes of the common cold. The new strain that originated in China is called SARS CoV 2 and causes COVID-19.
• COVID-19 can present with symptoms between two and 14 days following exposure.
• Symptoms can be similar to a cold or flu with fever, cough and shortness of breath.
• Human coronaviruses spread the same way the flu or a cold does:
  • Droplets traveling through the air by coughing or sneezing
  • Close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands
  • Touching an object or surface with the virus on it
• Precautionary measures for COVID-19 are similar to those of other viruses like the flu. The best way to stay healthy is through diligent respiratory hygiene:
  • Frequent handwashingis highly recommended, especially after coughing or visiting public areas.
  • Alcohol-based sanitizers and wipesare also good options for hand hygiene, as long as they have at least 60% alcohol.
  • Covering your mouth when coughingis an important way to stop the spread of viruses like COVID-19 and others that are spread through droplets.
  • Clean and disinfectfrequently touched objects with disinfectant household wipes or sprays.
• If you are feeling sick or showing signs of an illness, we recommend acting with an abundance of caution and staying home and calling your provider for additional instructions. They can recommend proper treatment and, if necessary, alert public health officials.

Thank you to our fellow PAs and other healthcare providers who are on the frontlines and working tirelessly for our patients.  Your hard work and sacrifices do not go unnoticed or unappreciated.  We must all continue to support each other, however possible during this unprecedented time.  The PSPA leaders will continue to monitor the COVID-19 events and update you when appropriate.  We appreciate your flexibility as we all seek the best course of action in these extraordinary times.