Journal of Oncology Practice, Vol 3, No 5 (September), 2007: pp. 283
© 2007
American Society of Clinical Oncology.
DOI: 10.1200/JOP.0759001
Physician Assistants in Oncology
Eric Tetzlaff, PA-C,
Maura Polansky, PA-C,
Kelli Carr, PA-C,
Jeannette Mares, PA-C,
Lan Vu, PA-C
Department of Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
To the Editor: We would like to comment on the efforts of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in identifying the challenges and demands of treating patients with cancer, and in naming physician assistants (PA) and nurse practitioners (NP) as part of the solution.1 At the same time, we are disappointed with two articles published in the May 2007 issue of the Journal of Oncology Practice (JOP), which slight the PA profession. The first article, written by Dr Yu, describes how NPs will have an increased role in the oncology workforce, yet the role of the PA is noticeably omitted.2 In the second article, a biased communication, Dr Cohen expresses his concerns over PAs in oncology.3
We cannot ignore that the section heading for the article by Dr Yu is the "Voice of ASCO." I can only hope that Dr Yu will follow his current report with a discussion of the role of PAs in oncology. Certainly, an article dedicated to describing the positive impact that PAs can have in caring for patients with cancer is warranted. Or does ASCO not have a voice for PAs? I do not believe this is the case. A liaison to ASCO was created in conjunction with the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) to represent PAs in oncology at ASCO events. In addition, a new educational symposium made its debut at the ASCO Annual Meeting in 2006. In conjunction with the AAPA, ASCO, and Oncology Nursing Society, the symposium addressed challenges that NPs and PAs face when evaluating patients.
Dr Cohen's letter deserves attention as well. PAs are educated, motivated, and caring health care providers. The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) employs over 160 PAs and relies on their skills, knowledge, and expertise to ensure the highest quality of care. The office of Physician Assistant Programs at MDACC developed a PA journal club, a PA continuing education lecture series, and a postgraduate PA program in oncology. In gastrointestinal medical oncology at MDACC, PAs have had a significant impact on oncology research, publishing original research articles and giving presentations at international oncology meetings.4–10 Other departments at MDACC have equally successful PAs.
We admire Dr Cohen's engagement with his patients. We also suggest that a PA might allow him to work part-time in his practice or see more patients as a full-time clinician. Dr Erikson et al reported that oncologists who work with NPs or PAs have higher weekly visit rates, and productivity is highest when NPs or PAs are used for advanced activities.1 In addition, PAs provide quality care when working in non–primary care settings. For example, PAs and NPs working in specialty HIV clinics had performance ratings similar to or better than physician ratings for eight quality measures.11 PAs should not diminish the role of the patient-physician relationship in oncology, but rather provide high patient satisfaction, increased revenue, and more forgiving work schedules for their supervising physicians.
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References
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- Erikson C, Salsberg E, Forte G, et al: Future supply and demand for oncologists: Challenges to assuring access to oncology services. J Oncol Pract 3:79-86, 2007[Abstract/Free Full Text]
- Yu PP: Making the sum greater than its parts: Nurse practitioners and physicians. J Oncol Pract 3:146, 2007[Free Full Text]
- Cohen M: In response to "Future supply and demand for oncologists: Challenges to assuring access to oncology services." J Oncol Pract 3:179, 2007[Free Full Text]
- Tetzlaff ED, Correa AM, Baker J, et al: Impact on survival of thromboembolic phenomena occurring before and during protocol chemotherapy in patients with advanced gastroesophageal adenocarcinoma. Cancer 109:1989-1995, 2007[CrossRef][Medline]
- Mares J, Worah S, Mathew SV, et al: Increased rates of hypertension (HTN) among patients with advanced carcinoid treated with bevacizumab. J Clin Oncol 23:329s, 2005 (suppl; abstr 4087)
- Carr K, Yao JC, Rashid R, et al: A phase II trial of imatinib in patients with advanced carcinoid tumor. J Clin Oncol 22:344s, 2004 (suppl; abstr 4124)
- Phan L, Hoff P: Evidence of clinical activity for cetuximab combined with irinotecan in a patient with refractory anal canal squamous-cell carcinoma: Report of a case. Dis Colon Rectum 50:395-398, 2007[CrossRef][Medline]
- Tetzlaff ED: Factors to consider before referring patients for major cancer surgery. JAAPA 20:21-28, 2007[Medline]
- Polansky M: Initial approach to evaluating a cancer of unknown primary site: Joint AAPA/ASCO/ONS Educational Symposium. ASCO Annual Meeting, Atlanta Georgia, June 2, 2006
- Mares J: Association between tobacco usage with an increased risk of pulmonary carcinoids, the 3rd Annual European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society Conference, Prague, Czech Republic, March 2006 Presented at
- Wilson IB, Landon BE, Hirschhorn LR, et al: Quality of HIV Care Provided by Nurse Practitioners, Physician Assistants, and Physicians. Ann Intern Med 143:729-736, 2005[Abstract/Free Full Text]
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