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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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CONTACT: Jay Purdy |
State Rep. Harry
Readshaw |
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Readshaw physician assistants bill heads to the Senate
HARRISBURG, June 27 – A potential remedy for the logjam of patients that often form in hospital emergency rooms across Pennsylvania has been passed by the state House and sent to the Senate.
The House Tuesday unanimously passed two bills sponsored by state Rep. Harry Readshaw, D-Allegheny, that would allow the number of physician assistants working under the supervision of a physician to be increased from two to four.
The measures (H.B.s 1251 and 1252) are components of Gov. Ed Rendell’s Prescription
for Pennsylvania health-care initiative.
Readshaw said expanded use of physician assistants would alleviate the burden on hospitals in treating patients with minor emergencies and in preventative medical care overall.
“These changes would be especially beneficial in emergency rooms by helping to free up doctors from less urgent cases so that they can concentrate on patients in need of more complex care,” said Readshaw. “This would also be more cost effective because people without the ability to afford medical care often seek relief at hospital emergency rooms for problems that people with health coverage would take to a general practitioner’s office.
“When emergency physicians have to deal with non-emergencies like sore throats and small cuts, sprains and splinters, it adversely impacts the ability of the facility to handle its patients and increases costs for medical insurers, hospitals and taxpayers.”
Readshaw added that in rural areas with limited access to general practitioners, physician assistants could help provide preventative medical care and routine health screening.
The bills now await Senate action.
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