California’s Physician & Surgeon Project
Occasionally, I write Practice Perfect issues that I’ve called “Public Service Announcements.” Today I’m excited to write a Podiatric Service Announcement regarding an issue that will likely have an absolutely giant effect on our entire profession. This issue, if completed successfully, has the potential to move our profession forward in the same manner as changing from chiropody to Doctor of Podiatric Medicine did or as did the acquisition of hospital privileges.
What am I talking about? This is the Physician and Surgeon Project, currently underway in California. Physicians, specifically MD’s and DO’s, in California receive a plenary Physician and Surgeon license which allows them to practice medicine. The MD and DO degrees are just that — degrees, not licenses. Podiatric physicians in California do not have this plenary license. The Project underway involves the creation of a taskforce that will evaluate the graduate education and postgraduate training of podiatric physicians in California. The taskforce will determine the equivalency of our training with that of MDs and DOs and identify any shortcomings, with the intent that new graduates (and those making up any deficiencies) would be granted the plenary license.
Frequently Asked Questions...
Follow this link for more information regarding the
California Physician and Surgeon Project. |
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What’s truly revolutionary about this entire thing is that the Taskforce will consist of members from the following organizations: California Podiatric Medical Association, California Medical Association, and the California Orthopedic Association. Yes, that’s the California Orthopedic Association!
The end goal of this project is that new graduates will be able to obtain the plenary Physician and Surgeon License. It will not make us MDs or DOs. Rather we will have the same privileges to practice medicine within our specialty. We’ll see an end to the History and Physical questions and the scope of practice skirmishes. It won’t be about a limited license. If I need to write an anxiolytic for my postop patient, I’ll be able to do so because I have the education and training to do this. If I’m trained to take a skin graft from the thigh, then I’d be able to do so.
See below for frequently asked questions to learn more about this. I’m going to close with two comments. First, as in all pursuits such as this the CPMA is asking for money to pay the consultants necessary to make it happen. Even if you’re not practicing in California, the success of this Taskforce will benefit all of us in creating a precedent that other states can then adopt in the future. This is how change happens, so be part of that change and make a tax deductible donation. A contribution form is attached below.
Second, the groundwork was laid years ago when, in 2004, the California legislature passed the bill which improved the podiatric scope of practice. This occurred when our podiatric leaders established relationships with the CMA and COA. This is the other way change happens — creating positive working relationships of mutual respect. Hats off to the CPMA, CMA, and COA. Most of us in the podiatic medical profession wish you luck and rapid success!
Keep writing in with your thoughts and comments. Better yet, post them in our eTalk forum.
Best wishes.
Jarrod Shapiro, DPM
PRESENT Practice Perfect Editor
[email protected]
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