Earlier this month, members of the state legislature attended a small briefing with healthcare leadership that included the Alaska State Medical Association (ASMA). The ASMA executive director made misleading comments that indicated PAs and NPs provided costly services in the emergency room with poorer outcomes than physicians.  The individual referenced a report that has not peer-reviewed, PAs were not part of the sample, and limitations in the data were not considered. Legislators immediately, and in follow-up, expressed concern and requested clarification and provided counter data. Additionally, the Alaska Nurse Practitioner Association have expressed similar concerns. The AKAPA continues to promote a shared partnership amongst all our colleagues in healthcare and advancing PA practice.  AKAPA remains steadfast that all practitioners have a role in providing quality care in the state of Alaska. We encourage our professional organizations in the state to work together to improve healthcare and not work against each other by promoting disparaging information while our state is already encountering significant barriers to care and access.

The work you do as a PA, for our patients, is significant.  Your commitment to this field is appreciated, and AKAPA will continue to strive to work for you in advancing our field and preventing limitations in the care we provide. We will continue to advance PA practice to accurately represent that PAs have the education, training, and experience to serve the patients of Alaska.  AKAPA is engaged and collaborating with our colleagues to promote PA practice.