Coming soon in Israel: a master's degree in the profession of "physician assistant"

The "physician assistant" profession is becoming established in Israel: the Higher Education Council (HEC) last night (Tuesday) approved guidelines for master's degree programs in the field of "physician assistant". General and intended to delegate many powers to the physician's assistants in order to reduce the burden on the doctors and speed up the treatment of patients in the emergency rooms and wards.

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Physician assistants are medical staff members who perform medical and administrative operations under the direction of physicians. In order for the physician's assistant to be able to assist the physician by performing some of the tasks routinely performed by physicians today, he must receive appropriate pre-medical training and work closely and subordinately to the ward physicians, both professionally and administratively.

In the last ten years since the profession was brought to Israel, it was possible to study the profession as part of a course, for those with a degree in emergency medicine, graduates of the MDA or IDF paramedic course or nurses. Now it will be possible to study the profession also in a university setting for a master's degree.

The new study programs will include theoretical and clinical components in accordance with the Council's requirements and will enable the training of highly qualified graduates who are able to provide a quality and professional response in the Israeli health system . The decision that was made focuses on setting strict conditions and requirements for the existence of study programs in the field, and this in order to ensure the quality and professionalism of the graduates.

In the first phase, the curricula will be held within medical faculties/schools only and will focus on preparing students for work in the various fields of specialization in medicine, using advanced teaching methods such as problem-based learning, case-based learning, and learning through simulation. The Council for Higher Education will discuss in two years whether it is right to integrate these programs also in institutions that have a faculty for health professions and will re-examine the admission conditions.

"The master's degree programs in the field of physician's assistant bring real news to the medical services provided in Israel," said Prof. Yossi Makori from the Higher Education Council, "the new profession will ease the attrition of doctors and improve the quality of the service provided to patients as has already been proven in other countries of the world. The programs will include theoretical and clinical components and will allow students to acquire knowledge and skills necessary for professional and effective work in the health field."

These are the powers of the physician assistants that you will meet more and more in hospitals soon:
• Initial patient admission
• Initial physical examination
• Taking blood
• Catheter insertion
• ECG test
• Checking indices
• Taking basic tests such as blood count and urine test
• Sending a patient for imaging (with the approval of the senior doctor)
• Administration of resuscitation drugs (authorized by being a paramedic)
• Escorting an unstable patient for remote imaging
• Sending the patient for consultations around the hospital
• Supervision of ventilated patients
• Managing the entire case and presenting it to senior officials at the morning meetings