Emily Nettesheim is a student in the PA program at Butler University in Indianapolis, Ind. Stephanie Neary is an assistant professor in the PA Online Program at Yale University in New Haven, Conn. Christopher Roman is an associate professor and program director of the PA program at Butler University. The authors have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.
JAAPA. 2021 Mar 1;34(3):46-48. doi: 10.1097/01.JAA.0000733248.60056.6b.
Negative stigma related to mental health diagnoses is common in both clinicians and the public. Questions about physical and mental conditions on licensure applications often are overly broad and may violate the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This study investigated state physician assistant (PA) licensing applications relating to physical and mental health, and their consistency with the ADA.
We collected PA state licensure applications from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. To be considered consistent with the ADA about physical conditions, an application had to only contain questions about a current (within the past year) physical health condition that impaired the applicant's ability to practice as a PA, or not include any questions about physical health. Questions that asked for speculation about possible future situations were considered inconsistent with the ADA.
Nearly 57% of state PA licensing applications were consistent with ADA guidelines on physical conditions; 51% were consistent for mental health conditions.
Many state PA licensing boards include questions about physical and mental health conditions that are not limited to current impairment. These licensure questions could violate the ADA, and may reduce PAs' willingness to seek help for mental health issues. Balancing public safety with clinician health is a challenge. Further research and action are needed to optimize PA licensure questions on physical and mental health.
心理健康诊断相关的负面污名在临床医生和公众中都很常见。在执照申请中询问身体和精神状况的问题往往过于宽泛，可能违反《美国残疾人法》（ADA）。本研究调查了与身心健康相关的州医师助理（PA）执照申请，并调查其与 ADA 的一致性。
我们从所有 50 个州和哥伦比亚特区收集了 PA 州执照申请。要与 ADA 关于身体状况的规定保持一致，申请必须只包含有关当前（过去一年）影响申请人作为 PA 执业能力的身体健康状况的问题，或者不包含任何有关身体健康的问题。询问关于可能未来情况的猜测的问题被认为不符合 ADA。
近 57%的州 PA 执照申请符合 ADA 关于身体状况的指导方针；51%的精神健康状况符合要求。
许多州的 PA 执照委员会都包含有关身体和精神健康状况的问题，这些问题不仅限于当前的损害。这些许可问题可能违反 ADA，并可能降低 PA 寻求心理健康问题帮助的意愿。平衡公共安全和临床医生的健康是一项挑战。需要进一步研究和行动，以优化 PA 关于身体和精神健康的许可问题。
