AAPA COVID-19 Resource Center
Updated:
PAs are a vital part of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. You are likely working long hours and putting your own health at risk for your patients. AAPA thanks you for all you are doing to address this global health crisis.
We will be adding new tools and resources to this page to help you continue to practice medicine safely and effectively, while keeping your own health in mind.
AAPA 2020 in Nashville has been canceled. Read FAQs on cancellation here.
Research & Information
AAPA’s Survey of PAs During COVID-19 Confirms Contributions, Adaptability of Profession
AAPA’s first national survey of PAs during the pandemic shows nearly half of PAs have tested, treated, or diagnosed COVID-19 patients. Furloughs, layoffs, and access to PPE are concerns for the profession.
Stay Connected
Video
Watch Videos on PAs & COVID-19
Check out media coverage showcasing PAs, get tips on avoiding burnout, learn how to be a PA advocate, and more.
Connect on Huddle
Share information with your fellow PAs in this COVID-19 Discussion Page on Huddle.
Social
Shareable Graphics
We created Facebook and Instagram images that you can download and share with your followers.
News
Minnesota PAs Celebrate New Law Removing References to Supervision, Delegation, and Physician Responsibility for PA Care
A new Minnesota law passed after years of effort by the Minnesota Academy of PAs removes references to supervision, delegation, and physician responsibility for care provided by PAs, allowing PAs to practice to the full extent of their education, training, and experience.
May 29, 2020
Oklahoma Legislation Allows PAs to Receive Direct Pay
Oklahoma PAs are celebrating a major victory with passage of S.B. 1915 which specifically allows for PAs to receive direct pay. The legislation provides Oklahoma with an element of Optimal Team Practice and modernizes PA practice in the state.
May 27, 2020
COVID-19 and PA Students: Adapting to Emergency and Lending a Hand
For PA student Shannon Watson, adapting to an emergency situation is no new feat. She shares how the California wildfires of 2018 prepared her to better adapt during the COVID-19 pandemic, and how she’s finding ways to help as a student.
May 22, 2020
What’s It’s Like to be Furloughed During COVID-19
Urgent care PA Rachael Jarman reflects on what it feels like to be furloughed during COVID-19, a situation she never thought she would find herself in. After planning workflows and patient care before the surge, she found herself staying home until further notice.
May 20, 2020
First National Survey of Physician Assistants on COVID-19 Crisis
A new national survey of PAs was released today from the AAPA. It shows the considerable contributions of PAs and the scale at which they have had to adapt to meet the needs of patients during the COVID-19 crisis.
May 19, 2020
SEE ALL STORIES
Learning Central
- Boot Camp on Demand
- Burnout: It’s Not Just Physicians
- Coronavirus: Fact or Fiction?
- Coronavirus: What Clinicians Need to Know
- COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Special Update
- Empathetics Bundle
- ENT for the PA-C 2019: From Burnout to Well-Being: Awareness, Accountability, and Action
- Feel the Burn?
- Is It Coronavirus or Is It the Flu?
- Novel Coronavirus: What the Clinician Needs to Know Interview
- Rapid Response: The Approach to the Acutely Ill Patient
- Serious Illness Management Toolkit: Being Gumby: Avoiding Provider Burnout
- Serious Illness Management Toolkit Bundle
- Serious Illness Management Toolkit Self-Assessment CME
- The Value of Team-Based Management in a Virus Outbreak
- US on High Alert With Coronavirus Outbreak
- Virtual Care Now! Design Thinking for Transformative Care
- Webinar – Caring for Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Webinars & Learning Opportunities
- ACADIA Pharmaceuticals: COVID-19 Information Sheet for Caregivers
- ACADIA Pharmaceuticals: Simple Guide to Navigating Telemedicine for HCP
- ACADIA Pharmaceuticals: Simple Guide to Navigating Telemedicine for Patients and Caregivers
- Accredited CME Resources on Coronavirus
- ACP Telemedicine: A Practical Guide for Incorporation into your Practice
- Calls/Webinars: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- CDC’s Clinician Outreach and Communication Activity Coronavirus Webinars for CE
- COVID-19: New Toolkit Teaches Oxygenation and Ventilation Basics
- Free Online Training: Critical Care for Non-ICU Clinicians
- Hippo Education’s Free COVID-19 Resources
- National Consortium of Telehealth Resource Center Webinar
- Patient Resource: Steps to Help Prevent the Spread of COVID-19
- Point-of-Care Ultrasound in COVID-19
- Social Distancing Tips from the GSA NAVP workgroup
- SonoSim: Ultrasound May Help Identify and Manage COVID-19
- The Early Natural History of SARS-CoV-2 Infection: Clinical Observations From an Urban, Ambulatory COVID-19 Clinic
Medical Journals
- American College of Physicians Telehealth Resources
- American College of Physicians Telehealth Resource on Coding and Billing
- Annals of Internal Medicine Coronavirus content
- JAAPA: COVID-19 Resources & Tools
- JAMA Network COVID-19 collection
- The Lancet’s COVID-19 Resource Centre
- The New England Journal of Medicine’s collection of articles on COVID-19
Public Health Resources
- American Hospital Association/Coronavirus Resources
- Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO) – Coronavirus Hub
- CDC Contact Tracing
- CDC Information for Healthcare Professionals
- CDC Communication Resources
- CDC Guidance – Managing Stress During the Coronavirus
- Department of Health and Human Services Updates
- EPA List of Disinfectants for Use Against COVID-19
- FDA
- Infectious Disease Society of America
- Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center (outbreak map)
- National Association of County Health Officials – Directory of Local Health Departments
- NIH
- American Psychiatric Association Coronavirus Resources
- Sanford Guide
Featured Resource
Suspended or Waived Practice Requirements for PAs
Use this interactive map to see which states have taken action to suspend or waive certain practice requirements for PAs in response to COVID-19.
Federal
- AAPA Communications With Congress
- AAPA Explanation of CMS Expansion of Telemedicine Coverage
- CDC Guidance -Managing stress during the Coronavirus
- CMS Expands Medicare Telemedicine Coverage
- CMS Removes Unnecessary Administrative and Regulatory Requirements for PAs, Other Health Professionals
- Communication with White House in Relation to Federal COVID-19 Response
- COVID-19 Emergency Declaration Health Care Providers Fact Sheet
- COVID-19 Public Health Emergency Interim Final Rule Comments
- DEA COVID-19 Information
- DEA Guidance: How to Prescribe Controlled Substances to Patients During the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluations (IHME) COVID-19 Projections
- PAs and Home Health
- Telehealth & Telemedicine by PAs During the COVID-19 Pandemic
State
- Alliance for Connected Care — State Telehealth Expansion by Governor’s Orders 4-1-20
- Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluations (IHME) COVID-19 Projections
- National Governors Association
- National Conference of State Legislatures
- Sample Emergency Declaration Language
- State Map – COVID-19 State Emergency Response: Suspended/Waived Practice Requirements
- Temporary License Prior to Certification Summary
Additional Resources
Crisis Hotlines
Do you need to talk or want someone to listen? These times may be overwhelming for a lot of reasons.
We Want to Hear from You
Share your story with AAPA about your work on the front lines of the COVID-19 response.
Crisis Hotlines
Magellan Health’s Helpline for Healthcare Workers | 1-800-327-7451
Staffed by certified licensed mental health clinicians, this 24-hour crisis line is for first responders and healthcare workers on the front lines of COVID-19.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline | 1-800-273-8255 | 1-800-799-4889 (Deaf and hard of hearing)
Provides free and confidential support for people in distress as well as best practices for professionals.
SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline | 1-800-985-5990
Provides 24/7, 365-day-a-year crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters.
From Our Partners
PA Program Faculty & Instructional Resources
PA programs, faculty, and students can access updates and resources from the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA), including instructional resources like the Teacher Toolkit.
COVID-19 Guidance for PA Programs
Read the latest updates and statements on topics like clinical rotations from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant, Inc. (ARC-PA).
Certification & Recertification During COVID-19
Get your questions answered with FAQs from the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA).