WINNIPEG - The University of Manitoba says it will become the first school in Canada outside of the military to train physician assistants.
Physician assistants work under the supervision of doctors and can do physical exams, order tests, prescribe some medication and help with some surgeries.
There are over 70,000 assistants in the United States, and they have long been trained by Canada's Armed Forces.
The University of Manitoba has announced it will accept up to 12 candidates for a two-year program starting this fall.
Manitoba is the only province to license physician assistants.
Ontario is running several pilot projects and Alberta has indicated the assistants are part of the government's plan to overhaul the province's health-care system.
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Article online since April 28th 2008, 0:00
Steven Guilbeault - 
