Canadian Association of Physician Assistants – Letter to the Honourable Minister Adrian Dix, endorsed by the BC Rural Health Network

“PAs are highly skilled healthcare professionals educated in the medical model and practice
medicine with a degree of autonomy negotiated with supervising Physicians, within a patientcentered healthcare team. PAs are physician extenders and work in a complementary role with other healthcare professionals, like nurse practitioners. PAs possess a defined body of
knowledge, specific clinical and procedural skills and a professional philosophy for effective
patient care. They apply these competencies to collect data and interpret information,
develop and investigate differential diagnosis, make appropriate clinical decisions and carry
out required diagnostic, procedural and therapeutic interventions, in collaboration with the
supervising physician.”