2010 Paulatim Magazine - RAAMC Association

Proposed Pathway – Medic to PA
RAAMC medics should be able to view progression to PA as a realistic
pathway in their long-term career development. Senior medics should
be expected to either go into training, mentoring and management as a
WO or ASWOC, or strive to undertake PA training to further develop
their clinical skills. Stagnation of these skills at the senior NCO level will
not be an option. The most likely decision point for medics will be once
they reach the rank of SGT. By this stage, medics will have completed
18 months of training through ALTC, followed by at least two years as a
PTE(P) and three years as a CPL. They will therefore have at least five
years of clinical experience once promoted to SGT and possess the
requisite training and experience to apply for entry to the
GCPhysAsstSt.
Medics aspiring to train as PA can then apply for selection into an ‘Army
Physician Assistant Scheme’ (APA), which would operate in a similar
fashion to the current ADF Graduate Medical Scheme. Selection into APA
would be competitive and possibly involve aptitude testing and a panel
interview. Medics who have demonstrated sound clinical abilities and a
commitment to a career in RAAMC will receive sponsorship to undertake
the GCPhysAsstSt (or MPhysAsstSt if they meet the previous degree
requirement) through UQ. Ideally, there will be ‘quarantined’ places in
the UQ courses for RAAMC medics sponsored through APA, meaning
medics will not need to apply separately to the University.
During their first year in either the GCPhysAsstSt or MPhysAsstSt,
students will only be studying part-time (two courses each semester).
This would allow APA students to continue to work in their current unit.
Alternatively, they could be posted to a medical facility (e.g. HSB or
CSSB) in a supernumerary position. Students would have a reasonable
amount of study time during work hours, as determined by their chainof-command.
Students would have their university tuition and
associated fees paid for through APA and an appropriate textbook and
professional development allowance.
Students in the GCPhysAsstSt stream will be eligible to proceed to the
Master’s program if they achieve a GPA of 5.0 or above. Those that do
not achieve this score, or do not wish to go on to the MPhysAsstSt, will
exit APA with a GCPhysAsstSt and resume their duties in their unit.
The support they received through the scheme would be considered
military-related training and would not attract a Return of Service
Obligation (ROSO).
Students that continue studying towards the MPhysAsstSt will receive
ongoing support through APA. They would undertake long-term
schooling and complete the Part B courses on a full-time basis. They will
continue to receive their current salary, accrue annual and long-service
leave, be eligible for housing support in accordance with their
classification and be covered by ADF medical and dental services.
They will also be required to abide by army directives regarding health
and fitness, use of prohibited substances and travel restrictions. In most
cases, APA students will be able remain in their original posting locality,
with the possibility available for students to post to another region if
clinical rotations required for the Part B courses are not available
locally.
Once graduated from the degree, APA students will be commissioned as
a Specialist Service Officer (SSO) at the rank of LT and be posted to a
large army medical facility as a first year PA with a two-year ROSO.
Non-military PA graduates who did not receive military sponsorship for
their training would also be eligible to apply for direct entry to the
Army as SSOs. During this first year, PA will complete a suite of courses
similar to those undertaken by other RAAMC SSOs, including the SSO
course at RMC Duntroon, Logistic Officer’s Basic Course (Health Phase)
and Military Advanced Resuscitation Course (MARC) at ALTC, and
possibly the Early Management of Severe Trauma (EMST) course as
observers.
The RAAMC PA
First year PA in the Army would work in large medical facilities, such as
in an HSB, CSSB, or Garrison Health Facility (once implemented).
They would be supervised by a Medical Level 3 or 4 (formally
Competency Levels 3-5) Medical Officer in the unit, who would monitor
their management of patients, write their Performance Appraisal
Reports (PARs) and provide them with informal and formal clinical
training and mentoring. The PA would see patients for sick parade,
take appointments outside of sick parade timings, perform minor
procedures as per their training and skill set, and assist medical officers
in clinical tasks as required. They would also be expected to provide
clinical guidance and training to medics in the unit, and provide medical
planning and support to exercises and activities as tasked by the unit.
There would be opportunities for PA to attend professional development
events, such as conferences and courses, with the approval of their
chain-of-command, and even deploy if operationally required.
Following completion of their first-year ‘orientation’, PA would either
remain at their HSB/CSSB/Garrison Health Facility, or be posted to a
unit, preferably one without a uniformed MO. In this case, they would
be the senior medical provider for the unit. They would continue to
work under the supervision of an MO located in the same region, albeit
remotely. Alternatively, they could be supervised by civilian doctors
providing medical services to their unit, if available. PA would be
expected to meet the healthcare needs of their unit, both in Australia
and on deployment, and be guaranteed access to an MO within a
reasonable timeframe for referral and advice purposes. Supervising
MOs would meet with their PA regularly to directly observe and provide
feedback on their consultations with patients. In the long-term, PA
would progress through the ranks in a similar way to other SSO health
professionals, taking on a managerial, training and/or senior clinician
role. Postings options could include larger medical facilities, the Army
School of Health at ALTC and headquarters positions involving health
planning and policy development.
PAULATIM
PA U L AT I M – M A GAZINE O F T HE R OYA L A U S T R A L I A N A R M Y M E DICAL C O R P S – 2 0 1 0 6 3