The role of physicians' assistants in a university teaching service

Abstract

Several significant problems are currently facing training programs in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery. These include an excess of trainees; the increased clinical activities in a number of medical centers, necessitating large cardiovascular surgical teams; and the less than optimal practice of using thoracic surgery trainees to perform routine tasks. We propose that the addition of physicians' assistants (P.A.'s) to the surgical team should alleviate these problems. These individuals can fit into the gap that separates the registered nurse from the thoracic surgery resident. After having been trained for a 2 year period, the P.A. can perform many routine tasks of minimal teaching value now assigned to the, thoracic surgery trainee. Relieving the trainee of these tasks should improve his morale, give him more time to evaluate the progress of each patient, and thereby improve the over-all patient care. We believe that by offering the P.A. a position with a thoracic surgery team, we are providing an exciting new profession in the health care delivery system.