Tightening up the nomenclature for non-physician clinicians: why not call all of them physician assistants?

Luppo Kuilman,Gomathi Sundar

doi:10.9745/ghsp-d-14-00217

Abstract

Tightening up the nomenclature for non-physician clinicians: why not call all of them physician assistants?

Highlights

This Letter is in reference to the article by KD Rao et al, ‘‘As good as physicians: patient perceptions of physicians and non-physician clinicians in rural primary health centers in India,’’ published in the November 2013 edition of Global Health: Science and Practice (GHSP).[1]
We would like to introduce to readers another cadre that has been present for nearly 2 decades in the Indian health care sector and that has been largely ignored for just as long—that of the physician assistant (PA)
The PA program as offered by several institutions and their affiliated universities varies in duration, but in general, requires 3 years of didactic medical education followed by a 1-year internship in a chosen medical specialty; graduates receive a Bachelor of Science degree.[4]

Summary

Introduction

This Letter is in reference to the article by KD Rao et al, ‘‘As good as physicians: patient perceptions of physicians and non-physician clinicians in rural primary health centers in India,’’ published in the November 2013 edition of Global Health: Science and Practice (GHSP).[1]. Rao and colleagues introduced GHSP readers to a cadre of health care workers called rural medical assistants (RMAs).

Results

Conclusion