North Carolina State Health Director Jeffrey Engel, MD, expressed to the University’s inaugural physician assistant class during orientation that they are in the right place, at the right time for a very fascinating career.
“It is an exciting time to enter health care, let me emphasize the word care because care in my world is actually a bad word,” said Engel.
He believes the health care model needs to move from a care centered mode toward a model of prevention and wellness starting in primary care.
High mortality rates are no longer due to communicable diseases and infections; it is due to non-communicable diseases. Engel shared that cancer has surpassed cardiovascular disease as the leading cause of death in North Carolina. The real antecedents of both diseases are smoking, poor nutrition and lack of exercise which are all preventable.
“I think Campbell University’s vision in the area of health care is so strong and important because the University is preparing for that world of prevention,” he said. “The bottom third of the Affordable Care Act is focused on prevention and wellness and no one is arguing about that portion.”
Under the new health care legislation, by 2014 all insurance plans will not require copayments for preventative health services. “Who will to take care of these patients?” he asked. “You will because we will not be able to get physicians out of the pipeline fast enough.”
In this new world of health care, Engel hopes to see physician assistants provide wellness and health screenings independent of a physician.
“There will still be a role for you in the sickness world because doctors will need your help,” said Engel. “But within the next five to ten years I can see the possibility of you having a great choice to work as an independent wellness practitioner or a dependent sickness practitioner depending on your interests in this ever-changing world of medicine, health, wellness, and yes, still care.”
Photo: North Carolina State Health Director Jeffrey Engel, MD, speaks to the inaugural physician assistant class.