Physician assistants approved to work in a B.C. hospital for the 1st time – CBC

by tmnationtalk on January 14, 202556 Views

Medical lead at Saanich Peninsula Hospital hopes 1-year pilot program will help with staffing

Jan 13, 2025

Two physician assistants have started work at the Saanich Peninsula Hospital on Vancouver Island, the first time the profession has been approved to work in a B.C. hospital setting.

Physician assistants (PAs) are medical professionals who work under the supervision of physicians. While they do not possess a medical degree, they are educated through a two-year graduate program under the same medical model used to train doctors.

Although PAs aren’t yet considered a “designated health profession” in B.C., two have joined the Saanich Peninsula Hospital as part of a one-year pilot program approved by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of B.C.

Unlike nurse practitioners already working across B.C., physician assistants cannot operate independently from a doctor. The physician’s college says PAs are currently only permitted in emergency departments within the B.C. health system.

Read more: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/physician-assistants-work-saanich-hospital-1.7430364

Send To Friend Email Print Story

Comments are closed.

NationTalk Partners & Sponsors Learn More