Here's how a new medical profession is helping battle hospital backlogs
A medical profession that is relatively new and not as known in Canada is quickly growing.
There are roughly just 800 physician assistants (PAs) in the country who play a vital role in the health care system.
"We're not a replacement for doctors. We're just physician extenders, so we just help to get more patients seen and through the health care system quicker and get access to care," explained Ryan Runciman, Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH) physician assistant.
"We can do procedures, so for me, whether that's wound care or drain care helping to insert or remove chest tubes, I'm kind of involved in those things," said Runciman.
PAs also take diagnostic imaging and bloodwork, prescribe medications, and assist in surgeries.
RVH's surgery division lead, Cindy Sklar, said the additional help makes a significant impact at the Barrie hospital.
"It's definitely new to us here at RVH within the last several years. Since the addition of physician assistants to our surgical team, the change in quality of care, patient safety, communication on the ward has been really impressive," Sklar said.
The addition of the PA role has helped to decrease hospital wait times in several units.
"Although we have physician assistants in the surgical program, they are also in many other places in the hospital, such as the intensive care unit, the medical unit, as well as Nephrology," Sklar added.
There are currently nine physician assistants at RVH, with two more set to be hired.
November 27 is National Physician Assistant Day.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.