Physician Assistants Critical to Veteran Patient Care on the Battlefield and at HOME

Physician Assistants Critical to Veteran Patient Care on the Battlefield and
at HOME

With Military Injuries on the Rise, PAs Step in with Needed Coordinated Health
Care to Treat Returning U.S. War Fighters

As America honors the sacrifices U.S. veterans have made throughout history,
the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) recognizes the valuable
contribution physician assistants (PAs) in the military bring to patient care
for wounded war fighters, both on the battlefield and at home.

The PA profession was created 40 years ago in response to the need for more
physicians to meet the demands for care among U.S. veterans. Today, PAs play a
key role in bringing the wounded warrior home and meeting the need for
continuing care as medical advances now allow war fighters to live with
injuries they would not have survived even a few years ago.

"As we seek strategies for filling critical gaps in care currently hindering
our health care system, we could learn a great deal from our uniformed
services, which implement a coordinated approach to care for returning war
fighters," said AAPA President Stephen Hanson, PA-C. "Military PAs are on the
front lines on the battlefield and serve as key members of the transitional
care team at home, providing critical assessments and determining treatment
plans."

Within the uniformed services, PAs play a critical role in extending the care
of physicians and in some instances, are the only health care providers
available to treat patients in need. Since military PAs often have a primary
care focus, they can seamlessly serve as key coordinators of care for war
fighters who may need treatment across specialties such as neurology,
orthopedics, and psychiatry.

"Right now, PAs are on the front lines in Iraq, Afghanistan, and everywhere
America's warriors serve, providing immediate medical care for wounded men and
women of the Armed Forces. Our ability to work within the primary care model
and implement more than 80 percent of physician responsibilities make us
critical in building a qualified medical workforce to meet the veterans' needs
and those of patients across the country," said Commander Lawrence Miller,
Deputy Force Surgeon, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Central Command.

WHO:** William H. Fenn, PhD, PA-C, AAPA Vice President/Speaker of the House of
Delegates, former Air Force Colonel, PA, educator, and leader within the
profession.

** CDR Lawrence Miller, Deputy Force Surgeon, U.S. Marine Corps Forces,
Central Command

WHAT: ** William Fenn will discuss the role of PAs in health care and their
historical ties to the military.

** CDR Lawrence Miller will share recent examples from military healthcare
that illustrate the critical role that PAs play in caring for veteran
patients.

WHEN:Advance interviews are available by request beginning Wednesday,November
4, 2009.

Additionally, AAPA will host a teleconference on November 10, 2009 at 11:00
A.M. ET to discuss the possible implications of health care reform legislation
on patient care. To participate in the conversation with William Fenn and CDR
Miller, RSVP to Jorge Sanz, jsanz@vancomm.com or 202-331-4323, x. 1045

The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) is the only national
professional association that represents PAs across all medical and surgical
specialties in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, the armed forces
and federal services. Founded in 1968, AAPA works to increase the professional
and personal growth of the entire PA workforce by providing comprehensive
support and advocacy for physician assistants so that they may, in turn,
provide patients with increased access to quality, cost-effective health care.

CONTACT: Brooke Braun of the American Academy of Physician Assistants,
+1-703-836-2272, ext. 3502, bbraun@aapa.org; or Jorge Sanz-Fuertes, Vanguard
Communications, +1-202-331-4323, ext 1045, jsanz@vancomm.com, for American
Academy of Physician Assistants

/PRNewswire-USNewswire -- Nov. 4/

SOURCE American Academy of Physician Assistants