The Future Role of Physician Associates in Ophthalmology Services
As a response to increasing pressures on hospital eye services, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth) has started exploring the integration of physician associates (PAs) into ophthalmology as a means of expanding the ophthalmic workforce while maintaining high standards of care. However, t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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White Rose University Press
2025-06-01
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| Series: | British and Irish Orthoptic Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://account.bioj-online.com/index.php/wr-j-bioj/article/view/433 |
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| author | Yu Jeat Chong Matthew Azzopardi Darren S. J. Ting |
| author_facet | Yu Jeat Chong Matthew Azzopardi Darren S. J. Ting |
| author_sort | Yu Jeat Chong |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | As a response to increasing pressures on hospital eye services, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth) has started exploring the integration of physician associates (PAs) into ophthalmology as a means of expanding the ophthalmic workforce while maintaining high standards of care. However, the proposal has sparked a discussion within the ophthalmic community regarding the role of PAs in a specialty that already benefits from a well-established and specialized multidisciplinary team. Concerns have been raised about their short generalist training, which may not fully prepare them for the complexities of ophthalmic care, as well as the high cost of their integration compared to other healthcare professionals. Given these issues, upskilling existing allied health professionals and leveraging digital health innovations could be more effective solutions in addressing workforce shortages. The Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth), having endorsed the pilot scheme, bears the burden of proof to demonstrate the efficacy and value of PAs in this specialized field, ensuring that any workforce expansion aligns with the high standards expected in ophthalmic care. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8ff42d4982884a05b2419fbc4eee07a0 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2516-3590 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-06-01 |
| publisher | White Rose University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | British and Irish Orthoptic Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-8ff42d4982884a05b2419fbc4eee07a02025-08-20T03:12:42ZengWhite Rose University PressBritish and Irish Orthoptic Journal2516-35902025-06-012166–7066–7010.22599/bioj.433433The Future Role of Physician Associates in Ophthalmology ServicesYu Jeat Chong0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8798-066XMatthew Azzopardi1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8571-2503Darren S. J. Ting2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1081-1141Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre, BirminghamMoorfields Eye HospitalAcademic Unit of Ophthalmology, Institute of Inflammation and Ageing, University of Birmingham; Birmingham and Midland Eye Centre, Birmingham; Academic Ophthalmology, School of Medicine, University of NottinghamAs a response to increasing pressures on hospital eye services, the Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth) has started exploring the integration of physician associates (PAs) into ophthalmology as a means of expanding the ophthalmic workforce while maintaining high standards of care. However, the proposal has sparked a discussion within the ophthalmic community regarding the role of PAs in a specialty that already benefits from a well-established and specialized multidisciplinary team. Concerns have been raised about their short generalist training, which may not fully prepare them for the complexities of ophthalmic care, as well as the high cost of their integration compared to other healthcare professionals. Given these issues, upskilling existing allied health professionals and leveraging digital health innovations could be more effective solutions in addressing workforce shortages. The Royal College of Ophthalmologists (RCOphth), having endorsed the pilot scheme, bears the burden of proof to demonstrate the efficacy and value of PAs in this specialized field, ensuring that any workforce expansion aligns with the high standards expected in ophthalmic care.https://account.bioj-online.com/index.php/wr-j-bioj/article/view/433physician associatesophthalmologyworkforce |
| spellingShingle | Yu Jeat Chong Matthew Azzopardi Darren S. J. Ting The Future Role of Physician Associates in Ophthalmology Services British and Irish Orthoptic Journal physician associates ophthalmology workforce |
| title | The Future Role of Physician Associates in Ophthalmology Services |
| title_full | The Future Role of Physician Associates in Ophthalmology Services |
| title_fullStr | The Future Role of Physician Associates in Ophthalmology Services |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Future Role of Physician Associates in Ophthalmology Services |
| title_short | The Future Role of Physician Associates in Ophthalmology Services |
| title_sort | future role of physician associates in ophthalmology services |
| topic | physician associates ophthalmology workforce |
| url | https://account.bioj-online.com/index.php/wr-j-bioj/article/view/433 |
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