7/29/10

It is with great gratitude and honor that I accept the position of president of the Georgia Association of Physician Assistants. I do not take this responsibility lightly. My challenges begin with first, representing this organization and each of its members, with my sincere respect and gratitude.

My ties with this organization date back to 1988 when there were only a few PAs actively participating. Since that time, I have witnessed the GAPA evolve and become a beacon for other constituent organizations within the country. The successes of this organization have been built on years of strong leadership, management, and volunteerism. Through those efforts, the outstanding reputation and strength of the GAPA has been steered by hard work, fortitude, and commitment from previous dedicated leaders who have paved the road for our future. My goal as president is to continue the efforts of those leaders and develop a strategic plan that will enhance the future of our organization to better serve each of our members.

Our mission is to promote high quality, cost-effective, accessible health care as part of a physician-directed PA/physician team, to provide for personal and professional development of PAs, and to represent the PA profession in Georgia. More than 2000 physician assistants across the state of Georgia are dedicated to ensuring that patients receive the personal attention they need from their medical care providers.

Since 1975, the Georgia Association of Physician Assistants has been dedicated to ensuring the professional achievement of Georgia´s PAs by providing active representation, reimbursement and legislative news, continuing medical education, and opportunities for personal growth. I will ensure that our board strives to continue to uphold the mission of GAPA and actively represent this organization with dignity as others have for the past 35 years.

Although we hear about this thing called a health care crisis, the PA profession has never before seen opportunities like those that are presented today. Significant changes are occurring across the spectrum in health care and legislation. It is crucial to remember that not only is the practice and art of medicine changing, but also the practice and art of the PA profession. PAs have made a significant impact in the delivery of health care and will continue to change the way health care is delivered in this country. PAs have become indispensable members of the health care team and are forecasted to be crucial members of healthcare reform. There are now more than 73,000 certified PAs in the U.S., and AAPA projects that by 2018, there will be more than 100,000 practicing PAs. I believe it is incumbent upon the GAPA to ensure that we continue to evolve and strengthen physician assistants´ ability to provide patient care. With that in mind, I have set three major goals as challenges during my term. We are extremely fortunate to be represented by a strong board of directors and together with our leadership within that board and our management team I believe we can implement a strategic plan to put these goals into action.

My first goal is to improve the state practice act to contain model language developed by the American Academy´s recommended six key elements of PA practice. Although significant changes have been made to the Georgia PA Act since its original passage in 1972, the basic regulatory framework and definitions had not been comprehensively updated since that time. The new practice act will raise the profile of PAs with in hospitals by changing bylaws that place PA as associate medical staff and terminate the PA inclusion as allied health providers. This new strategy will remove barriers to practice that serve no public protection role and instead Physician-PA teams will be able to provide care to patients in the most efficient and effective manner possible. This strategy will strengthen physician assistants´ ability to provide patient care. Currently, I am working with Tom Bauer, legislative consultant to GAPA, and Jennifer Radix from the AAPA in an effort to conduct a law review of the current statutes governing PA practice in Georgia. In this review we are doing an analysis of our practice act, and all of the statutes and regulations that affect PA practice in Georgia, in an attempt to identify areas that could be improved. The Academy has researched and prepared model language on a variety of topics and many chapters have avoided "reinventing the wheel" by consulting and adopting the Academy's model language. We have compared and contrasted what was recently enacted with the passage of HB 509 to the Academy´s model language and we have identified issues to consider addressing as part of our advocacy goals. We hope to continue these efforts and move forward advocating for changes in the practice act throughout the year.

My second specific goal is to work with the judicial affairs committee in review of the GAPA Policy/Procedures and by-laws manuals. The committee will be asked to advise the board regarding areas requiring policy development and implement a revised governance policy procedure manual and update of the by-laws manual.

Finally I believe the GAPA must always seek to improve its membership. We are only as strong as our membership and their involvement within our organization. I have asked the membership committee to implement a strategic plan to increase membership. Concluding, I thank you again for the confidence you have bestowed on me as your president. I will do my best to serve your needs and those of this organization as a group. We have a long road ahead of us, but I believe the time is now for us to forge ahead into the future with our practice act and enhance the ability of Georgia PAs to provide patient care. One of my most favorite sayings is from William Jennings Bryan, "Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice; it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved". So let´s choose wisely and with great optimism for success, we will strengthen our ability to provide patient care as effectively and efficiently as possible. I look forward to a healthy prosperous year and hope each one of you continues to love what we do: provide great compassionate patient care.

Mary Vacala, ATC, PA-C, MSPAS, DFAAPA