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Letters to the Editor
Re: Cardiovascular Physician Extenders
September 2009
I am someone currently embarking on the CVT/Physician Extender career path. I was military trained as a cardiovascular specialist and I have my hands in both echo and the cath lab, which includes EP and pacemaker insertion.
Upon my exiting of the military and re-joining civilian life, I have been extremely dissatisfied with the lack of the opportunity for me to perform both tasks, as I love both. My peers and physicians alike have been encouraging a physician’s assistant (PA) path for me and I have been very receptive to this idea, but my only catch is that I want cardiology only. I do not have the passion for other areas as I do cardiology. The PAs that I have spoken with have all said that to specify is difficult and the cardiovascular route is very limited in practice.
I think a program geared to these arenas would not only be providing an unparalleled example of continuity of care, but also give a needed overall picture for those providing care to these patients.
Anonymous by request
Learn more about the proposed curriculum for Advanced Level Cardiology Specialist Assistants on cathlabdigest.com:
Cath Lab Digest August 2008
A Proposal for the Core Curriculum for Training of “Advanced Level Cardiology Specialist Assistants” for the Performance of Diagnostic Invasive Cardiology Procedures
https://tinyurl.com/m92gyh
Cath Lab Digest September 2009
A Proposal for the Core Curriculum for Training of “Advanced Level Cardiology Specialist Assistants” for the Performance of Percutaneous Coronary Interventions (PCIs) and Non-Coronary Interventions: Part II
https://tinyurl.com/n3mrwo
Cath Lab Digest August 2009
A Proposal for Core Curriculum for Training of Advanced Level Cardiology Specialist Assistants for the Performance of Diagnostic and Interventional Carotid and Peripheral Procedures: Part III
https://tinyurl.com/lujd4c
Coming October 2009:
A Proposal for the Core Curriculum for Credentialing and Training of Cardiovascular Specialists and Specialist Assistants to Perform Invasive and Interventional Cardiovascular Procedures with Medical Simulation Enhancement Programs - Part IV
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