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| Reasons that PAs and NPs become involved in Specialty, State and National organizations |
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by Bob Blumm, MA, PA-C, DFAAPA - May 20, 2011
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I have sat on too many boards where I have heard potential members say that they have chosen not to join since someone else's money can foot the bill. I have seen too many associations where one person carried two or three 70-pound Alice bags and were exhausted. For a group to both survive and to thrive, it requires unity, joint membership, a commitment of time and money and a belief that this group will bring you to the place that they have promised. If your group has not done this, then the numbers of members fall off and the organization starts the process of "failure to thrive." I don't want to see that happen to any group, so the suggestions that follow have the opportunity of helping you to seriously ask if you have been fair by not joining or justified by choosing to remain a member. This is not a negative article but one that helps leaders to reinvent their groups if they have fallen and to continue to work diligently if they are producing.
So, what are we looking for?
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A feeling of value to yourself and to association and ultimate goals.
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Making a contribution of lasting value such as joining a committee.
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Making your credentials recognized to the shareholders, the patients, the administrators.
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Being a member of multiple listservs so that you are aware of what is taking place in your profession.
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Expanding your job opportunities.
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The acquisition of new knowledge and skills to make us more marketable.
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Recognition of your profession by those who will utilize your training and a name that clearly represents who and what you are.
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A showcase for your talent such as federal recognition of your place in health care.
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Prestige, by being sought out for advice from shareholders and the federal government
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The type of publicity that reflects your excellence and your pride in caring for the sick.
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Seeing dreams become reality; the NPs have experienced much of this lately.
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Crossing bridges and accepting and working with one another.
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Getting equal reimbursement for services supplied by any care giver whether physician or APC.
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Participating in special educational and high showcase briefings.
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A sense of pride about who you are and what you are doing that is shared by your entire family.
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An opportunity to make a difference by a broadening of scope of practice.
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Being a part of the solution rather than the problem when engaged in new opportunities to work together.
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Raising the standards, the prestige and the image of all those who are called PA or NP.
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Shaping the future direction of health care in America
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Joining in campaigns to increase visibility by lending your support to the job at hand. For PAs in may be changing the name to "Associate." whereas for NPs it may be getting full reimbursement or independent practice.
The old story says that when everyone works together, we all win. I believe that maxim.
 Robert M. Blumm has received national recognition as a distinguished fellow of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA). He is the past president of the Association of Plastic Surgery Physician Assistants, and was past-president of the American Association of Surgical Physician Assistants, past president of the American College of Clinicians and NYSSPA, as well as Chairman of the Surgical Congress of the AAPA. In addition, Bob received the John Kirklin MD Award for Professional Excellence from the American Association of Surgical Physician Assistants. Along with his associate, Dr. Acker, Bob was the first recipient of the AAPA PAragon Physician-PA Partnership Award. He has been a contributing author of three textbooks, written 150 plus articles and is a sought out conference speaker throughout the United States.
The viewpoint expressed in this article is the opinion of the author and is not necessarily the viewpoint of the owners or employees at Healthcare Staffing Innovations, LLC.
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