PAEA to Provide Services for APPAP

Beginning July 1, PAEA will provide management services and administrative support to the Association of Postgraduate Physician Assistant Programs (APPAP). Under the terms of the contract signed at the May meeting in Philadelphia, APPAP will pay a management fee to PAEA in return for agreed-upon services. APPAP’s members are formal postgraduate PA programs that offer structured curricula for NCCPA-eligible, certified PAs in a broad range of medical specialties.

Developments within both organizations make this an optimal time for PAEA to provide this assistance. "As a small, but growing organization, APPAP has recognized the need for management services for several years, said Maura Polansky, APPAP president. " We are very excited that PAEA will be able to provide these to our organization, as well as support that will free up the APPAP board to work on other tasks that are of importance to our members.  We also anticipate that this relationship will provide us with an opportunity to enhance our relationship with PAEA and fellow PA educators on issues of mutual interest."

With its own transition complete and staffing more stable, PAEA is in a position to handle some of the administrative duties for the postgraduate programs, as the American Academy of Physician Assistants has until recently for the Association. “We appreciate this opportunity to provide administrative support to our colleagues in PA education, as we both strive for excellence in training and practice,” said PAEA President Anita Glicken.

The postgraduate programs have recently been successful in their efforts to gain accreditation from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). Site visits to clinical postgraduate programs are scheduled to begin in June 2007, with the first programs to be considered for accreditation by the ARC-PA in September.

PAEA has agreed to provide the following services for APPAP:

1. Management assistance and administrative support
2. Office space, equipment, and facilities
3. Staffing
4. General office functions
5. Financial services
6. Membership services
7. Board support
8. Record maintenance

PAEA staff member Jennifer Jarmin, coordinator, meetings and education, will serve as the primary contact for APPAP, and will monitor a dedicated phone line for APPAP business. Other staff members will provide support in their areas of expertise. The contract will begin on July 1 and be in effect for 24 months.