By Ron Pace, PA-C
FAPA Past President
Chair, Judicial Affairs & Ethics Committee

FAPA is at a crossroads in the history of the PA profession in Florida.  What we do as an Academy and what you do as PA here in Florida over the next four to five months is going to affect this profession here for years to come.  I don’t like to cry wolf since just like in the fairy tale if you do, after a while no one listens.  You all know me and what I have done in the past for this Academy and our profession, so I hope you will give me the courtesy of reading this and giving serious consideration to what I am about to ask of you.

As a FAPA leader for a number of years, it has been my observation that the number one priority for the majority of you has been getting rid of the co-signature issue and leveling the playing field with the ARNPs on this issue.  Up until this year that has just been a dream for us, but I tell you from my heart that I believe that this year we stand the best chance ever of getting this inequity resolved.  But it is not going to be easy, or inexpensive for us as an Academy and as a profession.

We have learned from our past legislative successes that they way to get those successes is to start a long time before the session begins and line up support for our legislative goals.  We do this in multiple ways and each one is just as important as the next. 

First, we must have the support of the organized physician groups because if we don’t, then we do not stand a chance of getting it passed in the legislative session.  We do this by educating the physicians on the issue and asking for their support.  We strongly emphasize the physician/PA team concept, and show them how the change we are seeking is good for them as physicians.  Physicians listen to physicians, it is that simple.  We need physicians who utilize PAs to be willing to stand up at functions, Board meetings, and voice strong support for our issues. The FMA and FOMA listen to their membership.  So you need to convince your physician to be willing to join the FMA and FOMA and get involved, or at least go to meetings and write letters in support of these issues which affect THEIR practice, and yes contribute financially as well.

Secondly, we have to learn to play the political game even better.  You have heard this before -  all politics is local.  Each PA in this state needs to become active in local political races supporting candidates who are going to be supportive of our issues.  Support has to be in the form of financial contributions to candidates that FAPA endorses, and in physically getting out there to help the candidates.  Candidates remember those folks who send checks and they remember those who make phone calls, stuff envelopes, hold signs at polling places on election day, and walk the precincts drumming up support for them.

And thirdly, you need to support the PAC financially each year.  The PAC contributes to those candidates who have been or will potentially be supportive of our legislative efforts.  Look at the donation as an investment in your future as a PA here in Florida.  I know times are rough economically for us all, but this is one contribution you must make if we are to be successful in our endeavors. 

In the next few weeks we, the FAPA leadership, will be asking your help in all these areas – financial contributions to candidates and to the PAC; meeting the candidates locally and helping out in their campaigns. 

The FAPA leadership is making great strides in the development of strong working relationships with the FMA and FOMA.  We are now considered to be a major player and part of the team.  And we will continue to cement these relationships in the future.  But the seventy or so PAs in the Academy leadership positions cannot do it alone – it takes the support of ALL of you out there.  We the leadership have the same job, family and financial obligations as all you yet we find time to participate.  You just have to decide what is important to you for now and the future and do what you need to do be part of the solution and not part of the problem.

But I can bluntly tell you that if we do not get the support of PAs and their supervising physicians we are going to dramatically diminish our chances of success.  And in the future if you email me, call me, or catch me at a conference and ask why we were not successful in this I will simply ask you – did you make a donation to the PAC?  Did you make a donation to a local candidate?  Did you help out in a local campaign of a candidate that FAPA endorsed?  Did you get your supervising physician to be supportive as well?  Did you do anything at all to help and be part of the solution?  If you say no and tell me you did not have time to do anything then because you were too busy I will most likely just smile and say politely, well maybe next year if we can get enough support.  But inside, I will be thinking, “My that’s nice.”

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