Estes Park Medical Center recognizes its providers: MDs/DOs, PAs, and CRNAs

Nice recognition of all medical providers--including PAs and CRNAs--at Estes Park Medical Center for National Doctors Day (March 30).  Nice summary of the background and training for the provider roles.

"A physician assistant (PA) is a medical professional who works as part of a team with a doctor. A PA is a graduate of an accredited PA educational program who is nationally certified and state-licensed to practice medicine and works under the supervision of a licensed physician. The PA educational program is modeled on the medical school curriculum, a combination of classroom and clinical instruction. The PA course of study is rigorous and intense. The average length of a PA education program is 27 months. PA's also complete more than 2,000 hours of clinical rotations, with an emphasis on primary care in ambulatory clinics, physician offices and acute or long-term care facilities. Rotations include family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, general surgery, emergency medicine and psychiatry.

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists have the incredible responsibility of providing vigilant one-to-one patient care of protecting and advocating for patients during their most vulnerable moments. Afterwards they ensure that the patient is delivered safely into the hands of the nursing professionals in the recovery room. And while they carry a heavy load of responsibility it the "patient centered" care that makes their job not only important but gratifying.

As advanced practice nurses, CRNA's received their specialty education in more than 90 accredited graduate programs offering a master's degree. Admission requirements include a Bachelor of Science in Nursing or other appropriate baccalaureate degree, RN license, and a minimum of one year of acute care nursing experience. The curriculum covers advanced anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology, biochemistry and physics related to anesthesia; advanced pharmacology, and principles of anesthesia practice. In addition, CRNAs log in hours of hands-on experience in a wide variety of cases and techniques. They must also pass a national exam to hold the CRNA credential."

bit.ly/APPex31