Honor Physician Assistants Week

Assembly Resolution No. 942 BY: M. of A. Rules (Byrne) MEMORIALIZING Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim October 6-12, 2020, as Physician Assistant Week in the State of New York WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize official weeks that are set aside to commend those individuals who work to serve the health care needs of citizens of the State of New York; and WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim October 6-12, 2020, as Physician Assistant Week in the State of New York, in conjunction with the observance of National Physician Assistant Week; and WHEREAS, Every year from October 6-12, National Physician Assistant (PA) Week recognizes the PA profession; it is an opportunity to raise awareness and visibility of the profession; and WHEREAS, During the week, PAs are honored, and their role is publicized as a critical component in a wide variety of medical settings; and WHEREAS, There are over 110,000 PAs practicing in the United States, and today, about one-third of them are in primary care and two-thirds are in specialty care; and WHEREAS, Typically, PAs do the following to expand the medical workforce and enhance quality of care: take or review patients' medical histories; examine patients; order and interpret diagnostic tests, such as x-rays or blood tests; diagnose a patient's injury or illness; give treatment, for example setting broken bones and immunizing patients; educate and counsel patients and their families; prescribe medicine; assess and record a patient's progress; research the latest treatments to ensure the quality of patient care; and conduct or participate in outreach programs, talking to groups about managing diseases and promoting wellness; and WHEREAS, Before it was a week-long event, National PA Day was first celebrated on October 6, 1987, in honor of the 20th Anniversary of the first graduating class of PAs from the Duke University PA program; October 6th is also the birthday of the profession's founder, Eugene A. Stead, Jr., MD; and WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to take note of and publicly acknowledge individuals such as PAs who distinguish themselves through their exemplary careers, accomplishments, and purposeful lives of service to their community and their profession; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim October 6-12, 2020, as Physician Assistant Week in the State of New York; and be it further RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be transmitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New York.