Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant (EMPA)

The Department of Emergency Medicine sponsors and conducts a 1 year Fellowship in Emergency Medicine (EM) which is challenging, intense, demanding and rewarding. Currently this program is only for active duty service members.

Madigan Army Medical Center is one of two Army Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant training sites.

Q. Why specialty training in Emergency Medicine?
A. For starters, with this education you will be better prepared to manage the type of trauma that may be encountered on the battlefield. You will learn and become proficient in those skills which will be required on a battlefield. Also, you will learn an approach to patient care that can be used in almost any primary setting.

EMPA Training History

Training in EM for PAs was started in 1981 in response to a shortage of Army EM physicians. The PAs were trained at Darnall Army Community Hospital , Texas , and paralleled the second year postgraduate physician training. The training was blessed by local MTF commanders but, never officially approved or recognized. EMPA training was halted in 1986 due to a severe shortage of PAs. In 1991, training was approved by the Office of the Surgeon General and was awarded the M2 skill identifier and EM training began at Brooke Army Medical Center , Texas . In 1992, Madigan initiated its first EMPA training class and graduated the first class in 1993.

EM Training Perspective

We are dedicated to providing the best education possible for our Fellows. We use a team approach to problem solving. We train groups of people with individual instruction. We have a common goal… to train our Fellows in the art and science of Emergency Medicine. As any good program does, we constantly look for ways to improve ourselves… change is inevitable. We will afford our Fellows every opportunity to succeed. 

·         The Program

1. EMPA training is one year in length. It starts 1 July and ends 30 June the following year. The program is modeled after the Physician Residency using the approved CORD (Counsel of Residency Directors) curriculum. While the basic curriculum for EMPA Fellows closely parallels that of the CORD curriculum, given the time constraints of a short fellowship and the inherent differences in physician and EMPA providers, a "Critical Topics" list has been established as the primary focus of Fellowship training. The EMPA Critical Topics list is a list of 51 categories of trauma and disease states that the EMPA Fellow must be able to identify and treat before graduating. It is the minimal requirement.

2.  The program is designed to bridge the gap between theory and practice through one-on-one supervised "hands-on" training. The fellow applies the principles and procedures learned during didactic training. Clinical training will be conducted in a true patient care environment. "Hands-on" experience is an integral part of the program.

·         Rotations

The first month is spent primarily in the Emergency Department. Ninety percent of the first month is dedicated to lectures, ACLS, PALS, ATLS, and toxicology. There are two off site rotations: a two month trauma rotation at Tacoma General and ST. Joseph Hospital in Tacoma , WA., and a one month rotation at Mary Bridge Children’s Hospital in Tacoma , WA . Each fellow will spend a total time of 5 months in the Emergency Department for shift work. There are also multiple rotations throughout the hospital. These include but are not limited to: ICU 1 month, CCU 1 month, Anesthesia 2 weeks, Radiology 2 weeks, 2 weeks of electives, and Leave 2 weeks 

·         Assignments

Upon completion of the program, each EMPA will be assigned to any of the various MTFs throughout the ARMY. The usual tour is two years, as a minimum. After the initial utilization tour the EMPA may be assigned to any unit appropriate for grade and rank. 

·         Staff

All of the department physicians are residency trained in Emergency Medicine and are either Board Certified or Board eligible. The PA staff is specialty trained and experienced in ED procedures and education. 

·         Conclusion

The Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant Fellowship is an excellent training program that produces competent, caring and proficient EMPAs. We provide a challenging environment both physically and mentally. We maximize each fellows potential and more.

We offer an educational opportunity to increase your knowledge base, improve your procedural skills and reward you with the M2 skill identifier.

For additional information please contact:

Program Director
Emergency Medicine Physician Assistant Fellowship
Madigan Army Medical Center
Tacoma , Washington 98431
(253) 968-1250/0599
DSN 782-1250/0599
FAX (253) 968-2550