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A brief introduction to PAs in Germany
Peter Heistermann1, Tamika Lang, Claudia Heilmann
1Peter Heistermann is president of the German University Association Physician Assistant (DHPA eV) based in Cologne, Germany, and a professor at Fliedner University of Applied Sciences in Düsseldorf. Tamika Lang is a student in the doctor of medical science program at Still University in Mesa, Ariz., and owner of Patient-Centered Medical and Educational Consultants in Greenville, S.C. Claudia Heilmann is vice president of the DHPA eV and a professor at Plauen University of Cooperative Education in Plauen, Germany. Tanja Meyer-Treschan is a professor at the European University of Applied Sciences in Cologne. The authors have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.
Abstract:
The first German physician assistant (PA) program began in 2005 at Steinbeis University in Berlin. Since 2005, there has been a rapid expansion of PA education, and 22 German universities have opened or are planning to develop PA programs. In fall 2021, about 1,100 PAs worked in Germany, mostly in the inpatient setting, with a scope of practice focused on delegation and the performance of medical and administrative activities. After completing a PA program, students are awarded a bachelor of science; programs also offer options for specialization. With no formal PA program-specific accreditation processes, the universities are responsible for ensuring the quality and content of PA courses. The profession is not regulated in Germany, and laws to guide PA education and scope of practice are necessary for the further development of the profession.
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