Physician assistants as members of social service child protection units.
A nationwide survey of county departments of social services revealed a need for medical services and consultation to child protection units. Over 92% of the 84 counties surveyed stated they had a problem meeting their medical needs and would be willing to hire a physician assistant as medical consultant to their county's child protection team. No county refused to consider a physician assistant, but 7% felt their medical requirements were being met. Needs the counties most commonly identified were providing parent education/anticipatory guidance (69%), interviewing (65.5%), interpreting medical information to a multidisciplinary child protection team (58.3%), review of medical records (45.8%), and physical examinations (42.9%). Over 17% of the counties had money to fund a full-time physician assistant, and over 60% of the counties could provide a partial salary, with 70.5% willing to share a salary with adjacent counties and 76.9% with the county's public health department.
C. Henry Kempe National Center, Denver, CO 80220.
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D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002669:Child Welfare / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D003120:Colorado; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D010823:Physician Assistants; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012307:Risk Factors; D012947:Social Work / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence