A champion who helps effectively define and develop the role facilitates integration of physician associates
| Facilitator | Data |
|---|---|
| PAs have a champion who is willing and able to provide support and advocacy | Consultants felt that it was their duty to model acceptance and advocacy for their PAs to their junior doctors. Physician G – ‘I hope that we modelled that acceptance by the fact that the consultants all treated [PA] with respect, as an important member of the team. We all thought it was a great appointment and she was going to be great and the idea was great. I'm hoping that we modelled that to the junior medical staff because they saw us treating [PA] as a respected, important member of the team, that they would do the same.’ |
| Med PA 96 – ‘I think, now that we've all worked with more of the consultants for quite a period of time, they're able to introduce us better. I think the fact that they are happy and used to working with us has a bit of a knock-on effect in front of the others.’ | |
| Potential for PA to provide continuity on the service makes champions willing to invest in them | Consultants find that the constant churn of junior doctors is a poor fit for wards that care for patients with long-term chronic disease and that PAs are a better fit because they do not rotate away. Physician H – ‘We are developing inpatient specialist diabetes [care]. Typically, the junior doctors rotate within the blink of an eye. Whereas diabetes is a long-term condition and [we get] benefits from [medical practitioners] who spend a bit longer. They get a more in-depth understanding. So we were quite keen to have the physician associate. I imagine that if she didn't like our particular specialty, she does have some choice of moving. So, by definition, if they stay, it's because they have chosen to.’ |
med = medical; PA = physician associate.