The Interservice Physician Assistant Program (IPAP) was formed in 1996 by the assimilation of three service programs (Army, Air Force, and Navy). Applicants are selected from each service and upon successful completion of the program become commissioned officers within their respective medical corps. Clinical training takes place within military treatment facilities across the United States. Located in San Antonio, Texas, the program graduates about 169 PAs a year. Graduates are deployed to attend to service personnel, refugees, civilians, and victims of epidemics. The IPAP is unique in that it is the largest PA program in the world and its applicant pool is restricted to military personnel.

Introduction Over the last 200 years, the “medic” has demonstrated its value at the point of injury care. Unfortunately, when medics leave military service with their medical skills, they have limited direct employment options available to them without added educational requirements. Fortunately, the Veterans Health Administration’s (VHA) innovation of the Intermediate Care Technician (ICT) Program has a solution for that problem. This article will look at the Veterans Affairs’ creation of the ICT Program, investigate its origins, evaluate where it is today through the lens of the WHO Task-Shifting Model for healthcare system implementation, and address the ICT Programs’ potential for tomorrow. Materials and Methods A descriptive, non-experimental research method design was used to collect and analyze the ICT Program’s quantitative and qualitative data. Results Through a decade of quality clinical care, Authority of Veteran Affairs Professionals to Practice Health Care Rule, and comparative evaluation of the WHO Task-Shifting Criteria, the ICT Program will bring incredible clinical value to VHA. Conclusion The VHA ICT Program demonstrates to the U.S. Healthcare System a validated and reliable program to address healthcare worker shortages, reduce healthcare costs, increase access to care, and manage increasing demand for healthcare.