Welcome to the American Academy of Physician Assistants in Legal Medicine (AAPA-LM) website.

AAPA-LM is a special interest group within the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) and is open to all AAPA members. Through this website and our academy, we hope to offer information, education and resources to our profession, and to the the legal and medical communities. See Mission Statement at Bottom of Page.

RENEW TODAY!!

Membership renewal for 2011-2012 was due July 15, 2011, and is only $50 for the year. Membership runs from July 1 - June 30 each year. The PASSWORD for the member's section of this website WAS CHANGED JULY 19 so renew today! See Membership Page.

WELCOME NEW OFFICERS FOR 2011-2012!

Please see the Board Members page for a list of the new AAPALM officers.

AAPALM INITIATIVES FOR 2011-2012

The AAPALM board discussed and adopted a number of initiatives and priorities for the organizational year. Members please get involved and help with these.

ORGANIZATIONAL AND MEMBER
INITIATIVES FOR 2011-2012

• Complete the state by state list of law firms that deal with PA issues: 1) licensing and employment issues; PA malpractice defense.
• Expand the Speakers Bureau. More AAPALM members to join the AAPALM Speakers Bureau.  Give talks to and participate with local and national PA groups, your local and other state chapters.
• Review and Revise the AAPALM Bylaws.
• Write articles for the newsletter!  Please email Marcos with even short articles that may be of interest to members or with any activities you have conducted that may be of interest to members.
• Promote AAPALM.  Reach out to PA schools, state & local chapters, other PA specialty groups to educate our peers as to the organization’s mission statement and focus.
• Promote safe clinical practice. Provide education. Write articles for local PA newsletters, alumni papers, even popular press at local level to again, educate and inform about common clinical errors.
• Get word out among our colleagues about what the process involves when the PA runs into the judicial system (malpractice, certification or license issues).
• Develop lectures on videotape for CME for PA state chapters and PA programs.
• Compile a list of most common state compliance issues - post on website.
• Develop a policy paper on recommendations for safe, quality patient charting.
• Explore avenues for the rehabilitation and reincorporation of PA’s who run into compliance or practice issues, facilitating their reintegration back into workplace.  Investigate state programs that are already in place.

MISSION*:

The MISSION of the American Academy of Physician Assistants in Legal Medicine is to provide education on malpractice liability and risk management to AAPA members and the medical community with an emphasis on the provision of safe medical care for all patients.

Additional Objectives:

1) To serve as a conduit of information for PAs and other medical professionals who may be facing legal action;

2) To provide information and resources to PAs who are interested in becoming medico-legal consultants; and

3) To act as a resource and clearinghouse for attorneys and insurance companies seeking PA experts on the scope of practice and standard of care of physician assistants.

*Adopted May 25, 2009 by unanimous member vote at the AAPA Annual Conference, San Diego

Disclaimer: We hope you find this website informative, useful and educational. Please note that neither AAPALM as an organization nor its members offer legal advice. We are generally not attorneys. We recommend that patients or health care practitioners involved in a malpractice matter consult with a licensed litigation attorney in your state of residence.