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Widespread Role of Physician Assistants in Pediatrics
Pediatrics
Preface Widespread Role of Physician Assistants in Pediatrics
Kristyn S. Lowery, MPA, PA-C
Brian R. Wingrove, MHS, PA-C, DFAAPA Editors
Genevieve A.N. DelRosario, MHS, PA-C
Since our inception, the purpose of physician assistants has been to increase access to quality medical care for everyone. The profession of Physician Assistant began to grow in the post-Vietnam era when a need for well-trained generalist medical providers was identified. In the late 1960s, Dr Henry Silver noted that many children were not receiving appropriate medical care. He went on to develop a 2- to 3-year program to train assistants for pediatricians, which he then called child health associates. With the concurrent growth of the physician assistant profession, these child health associates later evolved into physician assistants in pediatrics. Today, there are over 3000 practicing physician assistants in pediatrics. Working in general pediatrics as well as almost every subspecialty, we provide care for all children from preterm infants through adolescents. We are proud to work together with pediatricians and other members of the health care team alongside families and children to improve children’s health and well-being, preparing them for a healthy, wonderful life as they enter adulthood. In this issue of Physician Assistant Clinics, our goal is to discuss a broad range of childhood health topics, including well-child care, neuromuscular disorders, asthma, congenital anomalies, and numerous others. Many pediatric physician assistants have come together in this issue to discuss the current evaluation, diagnostics, and management of various pediatric conditions. We would like to commend the Society of Physician Assistants in Pediatrics board and organization members for the research and time that were put into the development of each of these articles. We hope that you
Physician Assist Clin 1 (2016) xiii–xiv http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cpha.2016.08.001 2405-7991/16/ª 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
physicianassistant.theclinics.com
xiv
Preface
enjoy and learn from this issue as we work together to discover new ways that we can improve care for all children. Kristyn S. Lowery, MPA, PA-C Department of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC 4100 Penn Avenue 5th Floor, Faculty Pavilion Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA Brian R. Wingrove, MHS, PA-C, DFAAPA Children’s Physician Group– Pulmonology at Scottish Rite Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta 1100 Lake Hearn Drive, Suite 450 Atlanta, GA 30342, USA Genevieve A.N. DelRosario, MHS, PA-C Department of Physician Assistant Education Saint Louis University 3437 Caroline Mall St Louis, MO 63104-1111, USA Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center St. Louis, MO 63104-1095, USA E-mail addresses: [email protected] (K.S. Lowery) [email protected] (B.R. Wingrove) [email protected] (G.A.N. DelRosario)
Preface Widespread Role of Physician Assistants in Pediatrics
Kristyn S. Lowery, MPA, PA-C
Brian R. Wingrove, MHS, PA-C, DFAAPA Editors
Genevieve A.N. DelRosario, MHS, PA-C
Since our inception, the purpose of physician assistants has been to increase access to quality medical care for everyone. The profession of Physician Assistant began to grow in the post-Vietnam era when a need for well-trained generalist medical providers was identified. In the late 1960s, Dr Henry Silver noted that many children were not receiving appropriate medical care. He went on to develop a 2- to 3-year program to train assistants for pediatricians, which he then called child health associates. With the concurrent growth of the physician assistant profession, these child health associates later evolved into physician assistants in pediatrics. Today, there are over 3000 practicing physician assistants in pediatrics. Working in general pediatrics as well as almost every subspecialty, we provide care for all children from preterm infants through adolescents. We are proud to work together with pediatricians and other members of the health care team alongside families and children to improve children’s health and well-being, preparing them for a healthy, wonderful life as they enter adulthood. In this issue of Physician Assistant Clinics, our goal is to discuss a broad range of childhood health topics, including well-child care, neuromuscular disorders, asthma, congenital anomalies, and numerous others. Many pediatric physician assistants have come together in this issue to discuss the current evaluation, diagnostics, and management of various pediatric conditions. We would like to commend the Society of Physician Assistants in Pediatrics board and organization members for the research and time that were put into the development of each of these articles. We hope that you
Physician Assist Clin 1 (2016) xiii–xiv http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cpha.2016.08.001 2405-7991/16/ª 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
physicianassistant.theclinics.com
xiv
Preface
enjoy and learn from this issue as we work together to discover new ways that we can improve care for all children. Kristyn S. Lowery, MPA, PA-C Department of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC 4100 Penn Avenue 5th Floor, Faculty Pavilion Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA Brian R. Wingrove, MHS, PA-C, DFAAPA Children’s Physician Group– Pulmonology at Scottish Rite Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta 1100 Lake Hearn Drive, Suite 450 Atlanta, GA 30342, USA Genevieve A.N. DelRosario, MHS, PA-C Department of Physician Assistant Education Saint Louis University 3437 Caroline Mall St Louis, MO 63104-1111, USA Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center St. Louis, MO 63104-1095, USA E-mail addresses: [email protected] (K.S. Lowery) [email protected] (B.R. Wingrove) [email protected] (G.A.N. DelRosario)