Position Statements

Position Statement on Physician Assistants/Nurse Practitioners

Adopted by the AAEM Board of Directors, May 20, 2000

1. It is the concern of AAEM that patients have timely access to the most appropriate and qualified practitioners.

2. A physician assistant/nurse practitioner is an assistant and should never be utilized to replace a physician.

3. Attending physicians must be physically present, accessible, and be permitted adequate time to be directly involved in supervision of care.

4. AAEM believes every patient should have access to a physician board certified in Emergency Medicine and therefore opposes offsite supervision of physician assistants/nurse practitioners in emergency departments.