Physician assistant impairment issues. A primer on an important professional/peer review issue.

Like other health professionals, PAs must deal with the issue of impairment. An impaired practitioner is one who is unable to practice medicine with reasonable skill and safety because of physical or mental illness, including age-related impairment, loss of motor skills, and substance abuse. Because PAs practice under the supervision of licensed MDs, they face unique problems when their supervisor is impaired. The AAPA's Code of Ethics and Strategic Plan both stress the responsibilities of individual PAs and PA organizations to address impairment issues. The suggested model for self-regulation is the disciplinary/grievance model, which allows the profession to meet its ethical and legal responsibilities regarding quality, competent health care while providing a compassionate, caring program for impaired PAs/supervisors.