Newswise — Wichita State University physician assistant (PA) program alumnus Troy Richardson recently completed his eight-week elective clinical rotation in Puerto Rico and helped pave the way for students in the College of Health Professions (CHP) at Wichita State to participate in experiential learning on the island.
Puerto Rico is the only U.S. territory that does not authorize physician assistants to practice. The American Academy of Physician Assistants is working to change this by encouraging passage of legislation which would authorize PAs to provide health services in Puerto Rico that are currently provided only by medical doctors. Richardson, along with PA faculty and staff, worked for six months to complete an affiliation agreement between the CHP and the COSSMA clinic in Puerto Rico.
The agreement provides an opportunity for CHP students at WSU to potentially participate in clinical rotations with the clinic. COSSMA, a Center for Integrated Primary Health Services, is also qualified as a Federally Qualified Health Center clinic.
"The agreement we have with COSSMA is a great opportunity for students to learn health care in a different culture," says Richardson, who now works as a PA at Utah Community Health Centers in Salt Lake City.
Richardson, who previously spent two years in Venezuela on a mission trip, has 16 years of experience speaking fluent Spanish and translating in the health care system.
Kim Darden, physician assistant program director and clinical educator at Wichita State, says Richardson completing his final clinical rotation in Puerto Rico has created unique opportunities for CHP students and the COSSMA clinic.
"I'm proud to report Troy represented himself, WSU, the PA program and the PA profession exceptionally," says Darden. "We're excited about the success of our program in meeting its mission to complete the agreement."
Puerto Rico is in the midst of a health care crisis. Although it is a U.S. territory, the island is in a third-world country situation. The economy began to collapse in 2006 and has been declining ever since. Consequently a large number of medical providers have left the island, leaving many Puerto Ricans unable to receive quality healthcare. Medical resources are scarce, and it can take patients months to get a doctor's appointment, particularly with a specialist. If they are able to get an appointment, people often can't afford the high expense.
The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) is urging the Puerto Rico Healthcare Crisis Coalition to authorize PAs to practice and help meet the health care needs of the island.
Richardson says his experience with COSSMA was a great opportunity to represent and promote the PA profession in Puerto Rico. He says PAs are the solution to the island's healthcare crisis because they are cost-effective for practices and able to deliver a wide variety of medical services. PAs increase patient's access to care and improve the efficiency of the health care system.
Challenges
Richardson says it was surprising to not have access to many types of medications, equipment and specialty treatment – amenities that are abundant in the U.S.
"It was definitely eye opening to see the challenges firsthand," says Richardson. "But it was good experience because I was able to treat people with a variety of problems including heart conditions, lupus, HIV, kidney disease, liver failure and more."
Richardson says despite financial limitations, COSSMA is one of the only clinics in Puerto Rico that has a number of specialties available such as primary care medicine, OBGYN, a dental clinic, psychiatric services and health education.
During his time in Puerto Rico, Richardson worked with many different providers to talk about education and the role PAs can play to help with the health care crisis. He says he was embraced by the medical community and introduced to representatives from several major health care organizations of Puerto Rico, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Healthcare Crisis Coalition and others. His clinical rotation ended with a celebration and a certificate honoring him and his contributions.
"Everyone in Puerto Rico was very receptive and excited for more PA students to come practice," says Richardson. "The trip was an incredible experience."
A photograph is available at http://www.wichita.edu/thisis/wsunews/newsrelease/highres/?pid=7230# # # # #Contact: Kim Darden, physician assistant program director and professor, 316-978-3011 or [email protected].
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