The Value of International Exchange Programs for Physician Assistants: Surveying a US-Netherlands Advanced Practice Provider Exchange Program

Sara Lynne Wright; Chen Der Low; Caroline Scribner; Angela Chong; Adam Seligman

doi:10.1097/JPA.0000000000000607

The Value of International Exchange Programs for Physician Assistants: Surveying a US-Netherlands Advanced Practice Provider Exchange Program

J Physician Assist Educ. 2024 Jun 11. doi: 10.1097/JPA.0000000000000607. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Sara Lynne Wright^{1

2

3

4

5}, Chen Der Low^{1

2

3

4

5}, Caroline Scribner^{1

2

3

4

5}, Angela Chong^{1

2

3

4

5}, Adam Seligman^{1

2

3

4

5}

Affiliations

¹ Sara Lynne Wright, MS, PA-C, is a physician assistant, Geriatrics, Stanford Health Care, Instructional Faculty, Stanford School of Medicine, Palo Alto, California.
² Chen Der Low, MSN, NP, is a nurse practitioner, Acute Pain Medicine, Stanford Health Care, Palo Alto, California.
³ Caroline Scribner, MSN, NP, is a nurse practitioner, Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program, Stanford Healthcare Palo Alto, California.
⁴ Angela Chong, MS, PA-C is a physician assistant, Bass Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Stanford Children's Health, Palo Alto, California.
⁵ Adam Seligman, MS, PA-C, is a physician assistant, Pediatric Pulmonary, Stanford Children's Health, Palo Alto, California.

PMID: 38874359
DOI: 10.1097/JPA.0000000000000607

Abstract

Introduction: International exchange programs between physician assistants (PAs) and other advanced practice providers (APPs) from different countries can facilitate opportunities for global health training and experiences. This article examines a survey of 5 PAs, 4 nurse practitioners, and 1 certified nursing specialist working in the United States (US) about their experience collaborating in an international exchange program with APPs in the Netherlands.

Methods: Ten APPs in the United States anonymously answered an 8-item survey on their experience in an international exchange program with APPs in the Netherlands with a 100% response rate. The survey contained questions regarding the impact of the program on cultural competence, professional development, and perception of health care systems.

Results: All respondents agree or strongly agree that the program contributed to APP growth in cultural competence and professional development. Eighty percent of respondents found APP practices in the United States compared with the Netherlands to be somewhat or extremely similar, with differences noted in training and education, patterns of utilization, and roles in procedures. Free responses indicate APPs are used similarly in the Netherlands and the United States, while APP training models and health care infrastructure in the 2 countries have notable differences.

Discussion: Survey results examined in this article underscore how an international exchange program can not only enrich individual professional paths but also positively contribute to the broader global health care landscape. The lessons learned, shared experiences, and insights gained have the potential to shape health care practices on an international scale, fostering a collaborative and interconnected future for health care providers worldwide.