Physician Assistants--a solution to wait times in Canada?

Access to medical care is limited in most of Canada, and the population often endures lengthy waiting times to see a physician. The use of new and varied health care providers has been suggested as a means to alleviate the shortage of physicians. This paper reviews the history and role of the Physician Assistant (PA), both in Canada and internationally, and outlines the clinical competencies currently held by this provider to fill the role of a physician extender in our country. PAs' experiences are reported in the Canadian Forces (CF), where they have been employed for many years, and in Manitoba, where they are used as surgical assistants. The potential for the PA to be incorporated into our provincial health care systems will be considered in light of common barriers to Health Human Resources (HHR) strategic implementation.