January 2013
Health Care Careers
Radiation therapy vacancy rates decline in 2012
Vacancy rates for radiation therapists declined in 2012, according to a new survey from the American Society of Radiologic Technologists.
The vacancy rate for radiation therapists fell to 2.1 percent in 2012, down from 3.1 percent in 2011. At the same time, the vacancy rate for medical dosimetry rose slightly from 4.9 percent to 5.1 percent during the same period. Vacancy rates represent the percent of positions that are open and actively being recruited.
History of the physician assistant profession describes AMA role
A recent article on the development of the physician assistant profession over the years notes the role of the AMA is the field's establishment.
Published in the Journal of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, the article describes how the AMA "contributed substantially by confirming legitimacy along with acceptance of the concept and played a strong role in the establishment of standards for PA educational program accreditation."
"A critical event in the survival of the PA concept was the endorsement given by the AMA in 1969," during the AMA House of Delegates meeting, the authors note. Two years later, the AMA "assumed a major role in establishing the program accreditation structure" for the PA field, through development of accreditation standards and conducting on-site evaluations of programs seeking accreditation.
Quotable: The effectiveness of the physician-led health care team
A recent editorial in American Medical News describes the "best model" for health care teams—"with care provided by all professionals performing up to their level of training, at the discretion of the physician leader. In this arrangement, the person patients say they want in charge of their care—the physician—is in that position, but the strengths and perspectives of all professions in the health care team are utilized to provide the safest, best treatment."
The AMA Council on Medical Education and Council on Medical Service wrote a report on interprofessional teams that was approved by the AMA House of Delegates at its recent Interim meeting.
Returning vets offered opportunity to become physician assistants
The University of North Carolina School of Medicine and the state's largest insurer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, have announced a plan to create a two-year master's degree program, reports the Herald Sun. The program would prepare veteran medical sergeants to be physician assistants.
The program would enroll its first class of 15 students in 2015.
JAMA: different health professionals and what they do
The Patient Page in the Dec. 5 issue of JAMA describes the various roles and qualifications of health professionals. Featured are physicians, physician assistants, advanced practice nurses, dentists and oral-maxillofacial surgeons.
Order your copy now of the 2012-2013 Health Care Careers Directory
The 2012-2013 Health Care Careers Directory is now available for purchase—order your copy now. This updated edition includes 8,900 health professions education programs in more than 80 different fields.
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