Development of a Physician Assistant Orientation Program in a Pediatric Emergency Department

Authors

Susannah Jenkins, Susannah Jenkins, MPAS, PA-C, is an assistant professor for the Department of PA Studies, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, and the director of physician assistant student education, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC.
Pavan Zaveri, Susannah Jenkins, MPAS, PA-C, is an assistant professor for the Department of PA Studies, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, and the director of physician assistant student education, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC.
Xian Zhao, Susannah Jenkins, MPAS, PA-C, is an assistant professor for the Department of PA Studies, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, and the director of physician assistant student education, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC.

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

6-1-2023

Journal

The journal of physician assistant education : the official journal of the Physician Assistant Education Association

Volume

34

Issue

2

DOI

10.1097/JPA.0000000000000496

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The role of physician assistants (PAs) in the care of emergency department (ED) patients has been expanding in recent years. However, little is known about how PAs are prepared to practice in pediatric emergency medicine (PEM), and there is no published literature on how to train PAs in independently managing low-acuity visits in the pediatric emergency department (PED). METHODS: We created a preorientation, orientation, and postorientation program for PAs who are onboarding in the PED at a large, free-standing pediatric acute care hospital. We implemented an evaluation system that assessed readiness for independent practice based on number and type of patients seen as well as supervising physicians' feedback. RESULTS: On average, PAs took care of 877 patients over the course of their first year of employment at the hospital before achieving readiness for independent practice. Most PAs were deemed ready to see low-acuity patients without direct supervision by PEM attendings during their third or fourth quarter of employment. DISCUSSION: The successful implementation of a 12-month curriculum and individualized feedback allowed our PED to prepare PAs for independent management of the low-acuity PED patient.

APA Citation

Jenkins, Susannah; Zaveri, Pavan; and Zhao, Xian, "Development of a Physician Assistant Orientation Program in a Pediatric Emergency Department" (2023). GW Authored Works. Paper 2815.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/2815

Department

Pediatrics