Valerie Parrish, PA-C. Advanced Practice Providers & teamwork

This week, I had the privilege of conversing with Valerie Parrish, a highly accomplished professional in pediatric hip pathology. Valerie is a certified physician assistant at Texas Children's Hospital and has dedicated her career to the specialized area of pediatric orthopedics. Her role as an advanced practice provider has afforded her with unique insights into the job of a physician assistant, the intricacies of pediatric orthopedics, and the efficient management of a practice. We discussed the modern physician assistant movement, how it began, and how it can enhance surgical practices. we talk about both surgical and non-surgical PAs and how they can improve teaching for orthopedic trainees We talked about her education, how she became a PA, and specifically how she became involved in pediatric hip. We discuss managing complex patients with hip dysplasia in clinic and incorporating other healthcare professionals to provide an integral strategy that benefits all. We deliberated on some shared frustrations with Legg Calvé Perthes and how PA involvement can alleviate surgeons' workloads, improving patient care and outcomes. This can also increase the surgical yield of orthopedic clinics, an often-used marker of efficiency. She also talks about how developing professional relationships is a key to success, amongst other topics