title: Physician assistants in Australasian emergency departments.
abstract: A physician assistant (PA) is a university qualified health professional who's primary role is to provide medical care under the direction and supervision of medical staff. This is a new profession in Australasia. The PA is well suited to working in both rural, regional and urban settings that deliver emergency medical care. A perspective is presented on their role and scope of practice within the Australasian emergency care system supported by some early findings from their use in a tertiary ED.
authors.affiliation: Emergency Medicine, The Townsville Hospital, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Close
authors.affiliation: Emergency Medicine, The Townsville Hospital, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zolcinski
mesh_terms: D044362:Australasia; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000193:education; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D010823:Physician Assistants / Q000193:education; D024382:Professional Role; D000078329:Workforce
keywords: emergency department; physician assistant