The idea of modernizing Physician Assistant (PA) practice through Optimal Team Practice (OTP) has sparked significant debate within healthcare. As our profession grows, we continually encounter challenges, both from within and from outside the PA community.
OTP, along with the recently incorporated name change to Physician Associate(former Physician Assistant), is a particularly contentious issue. Most in the PA community see immediate advantages, like improved job prospects, while a few others worry about potential downsides, such as damaging relationships with physician colleagues. Supporters and proponents believe OTP will ensure fair employment opportunities. However, organizations like PAEA and ARC-PA prefer the current system, seemingly viewing OTP as a threat to existing regulations and establishing working relationships with physician organizations like the AMA and AOA. This disagreement is causing confusion and division.
Worse yet, physician organizations like the AMA and AFPA are actively opposing our progress, questioning our role and effectiveness. They're trying to maintain the legal requirement for physician supervision, which jeopardizes our careers and limits patients' access to care.
OTP supporters understand the importance of this initiative. We must stand strong against misinformation and misleading claims. We've faced similar opposition in the past and successfully overcome it. We will not be intimidated.
Our collective strength and determination will see us through, as they have before. We, as OTP supporters, must remain resolute despite the negativity and pessimistic predictions.
The time to modernize PA practice is now. Let's move forward together, embracing OTP as the next logical step in our profession's evolution—a step we've earned.
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