President's Message
Gregg Christensen, PA-C Dear DEAPA Members and Colleagues: As the President of the Downeast Association of Physician Assistants, I have the honor of leading our organization this year, and I thank you for your support. Whether you're an active member of DEAPA, a "checkbook member," or a PA who is not a member, the DEAPA is working for you. The excellent practice environment that PAs enjoy here in the State of Maine is a direct result of the hard work and dedication of those DEAPA leaders who have come before us and laid the groundwork. It is up to us now to continue that work and advance our profession even further here in the State as well as nationally. We cannot afford to rest on our laurels, particularly while the Federal and State regulators, as well as the third party players, are continually tinkering with the system. If you've worked in this profession for very long, you have seen many of the changes that have occurred and realize that many more are coming. PA's need an active voice in these changes, as our profession represents the best solution to affordable healthcare in the future. That's where the DEAPA and the AAPA come in. As a member of these organizations, you will have "a seat at the table" for the upcoming discussions. And believe me, the inevitable changes that will be occurring will directly affect your ability to practice. This year, the DEAPA worked to pass legislation to allow PAs to sign death certificates-this may not sound like much to many of you, but for those of us who work in remote settings, it is. As you know, Maine is one of the few states that allow Schedule II prescribing privileges-you have the DEAPA to thank for this, and you should know that it was a hard fought battle. We have been working closely with the Maine State Nurses' Association in promoting the benefits that all midlevel providers offer the system. We now have PAs working in every aspect of healthcare in the State of Maine, from frontline primary care, throughout all the specialties, administration, research, and education. These opportunities that we all enjoy were a direct result of your organization's hard work and support. As the health care delivery system in this State and nation evolves, the PA profession has the opportunity to be at the forefront of that evolution, working to improve quality and access for all our citizens. We should not sit on the sidelines and accept the changes put forth by those who don't know the difference between systole and diastole. The DEAPA and the AAPA are YOUR organizations, and you should be a member . . . the cost is minimal (often covered by employers) and the benefits are enormous.
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