An Update on the Physician Assistant Name Change
Key takeaways:
The PA profession has officially changed its title from physician assistant to physician associate and changed the title of its professional organization to the American Academy of Physician Associates.
Implementing the name change is complex and challenging. It may take several years to complete.
PAs should continue to refer to themselves as PAs or physician assistants in a professional capacity, particularly in clinical settings with patients, until the jurisdiction governing their licensure and practice has formally adopted the title of physician associate.
The PA profession has changed its name from “physician assistant” to “physician associate.” This decision was born out of a desire to better reflect the PA’s role and has been in the works for some time now. In May 2021, the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) officially announced adoption of the new title.
GoodRx had the opportunity to interview Jennifer M. Orozco, MMS, PA-C, DFAAPA, the current AAPA president and chair of the board, about the status of the physician assistant profession’s name change.
What’s the status of the name change?
AAPA has successfully completed the steps required to legally change its corporate name to the American Academy of Physician Associates, Inc. This change, however, is just the beginning.
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Implementation of the professional title change is a complex process. It involves a number of independent organizations, as well as state and federal legislative and regulatory bodies. It will take some time to fully carry out the title change.
Here are some of the anticipated next steps:
AAPA branding: AAPA has begun updating its branding, products, assets, and digital resources to reflect the new title. Given the number of platforms and assets to be updated, the variety of audiences they reach, and the legal considerations, it is expected that both physician assistant and physician associate will be used for years.
Cohesion of branding: The goal is to achieve cohesion among the national bodies that govern PA education and certification and all the profession’s constituent groups. Currently, the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA), the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA), and the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) retain “physician assistant” in their titles, as do the profession’s state chapters. Here are some organizations that have already adopted the new name:
Geriatric Medicine PAs
Academy of Physician Associates in Cardiology
Physician Associates for Latino Health
African Heritage Physician Associate Caucus
Physician Associates for Oral Health
Association of Physician Associates in Obstetrics and Gynecology
National Association of Physician Associates in Cannabis
Change at the state level: Each state has a PA chapter that is responsible for carrying out the name change at the local level. Each state organization must meet the legal and regulatory requirements necessary to implement the name change in its location. AAPA is working with each state chapter to help put these changes in place.
Communication with the medical community: AAPA continues to work with various medical groups and associations as the profession’s rebranding unfolds.
How does the medical community feel about the name change?
While most PA professionals have welcomed the change, some in the medical community have been critical of the decision.
An American Medical Association statement expresses concern that the name change is confusing for patients. It asserts that the decision is an attempt to move toward more independent practice. Similar concerns were echoed by the American Osteopathic Association and the American Academy of Dermatology.
Orozco, however, states that the goal of the title change is to more accurately reflect the role of the PA in today’s modern healthcare practice. PAs are highly trained healthcare providers who do more than assist in clinical practice. The physician associate title clarifies rather than confuses patients about the role of the provider they are seeing.
In response to the concern that the title change indicates a move away from the physician-led model of practice, Orozco assures that the profession remains committed to the team-based approach for which it is known.
She further states that the new title has no impact on the PA’s scope of practice. “PAs are united with their healthcare colleagues by the shared mission of providing safe, effective, high-quality care to all patients in order to achieve the best possible outcome. This can only be achieved when every member of a patient’s healthcare team is allowed to practice to the fullest extent of their education, training, and experience.”
Orozco says that sometimes change is difficult and that a desire to maintain the status quo is a natural reaction. She believes that the medical community will come around once they realize that PAs continue to provide exceptional healthcare, regardless of the title they hold.
Is AAPA still confident in its move to change the name?
Yes. In fact, AAPA launched a new brand campaign (“PAs Go Beyond”) in May 2022 to educate patients and stakeholders about the value of PAs in today’s chaotic and over-taxed healthcare system.
If I’m a PA, when should I not use physician associate to describe myself?
PAs should only refer to themselves as physician associates if the jurisdiction governing their licensure and practice has formally adopted the new title. If not, PAs should continue to use the physician assistant title.
Here are some reasons to use the appropriate title:
Using the incorrect title may have significant legal or regulatory consequences.
Institutions that employ PAs may view inappropriate use of the title as a violation of professional bylaws and procedures that can result in disciplinary action.
Misuse of the professional title may be used as grounds for refusal of coverage by malpractice insurers.
Premature use of the new title could result in issues with licensure and local government.
For now, Orozco advises PAs to “continue to do what they usually do: Introduce themselves as PAs.” The use of the PA title is an excellent strategy for two reasons: Most patients know physician assistants as PAs, and the PA title represents both physician assistant and physician associate.
Of course, if a further explanation of the PA title is required, PAs should use physician assistant in all professional and clinical encounters until further instructed by their governing bodies.
If I’m a non-PA provider, can I use the physician associate title in my practice?
All institutions and organizations that employ physician assistants should continue to refer to PAs as a PA or physician assistant until their state’s legislature officially endorses the change to physician associate.
Just as PAs face potential consequences for prematurely using the new title, so do those who employ them.
The bottom line
Although the AAPA has legally changed its name, full implementation of the title change is a complex process that will take time. Orozco states that the new title serves to clarify the PA role and asserts that PAs are dedicated to the team-based approach to patient care for which they are known.
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