PAEA and PA Profession - Key Messages – REVISED 01-10-14
PAS ARE CRITICAL TO THE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM With a shortage of primary care providers, the availability of well-trained PAs, who can practice with a significant level of autonomy, is critical to meeting the demands of patients. •
PAs play an important role in meeting the challenges facing America’s health care system in a cost-effective way.
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PAs are trained in the same medical model as physicians, and studies show that in a primary care setting, PAs can provide almost all clinical services as a physician with no reduction in quality and with equivalent patient care satisfaction.
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Over a third of all PAs elect to practice in primary care, and new incentives built into our emerging health care system can help make those numbers even higher.
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PAs are particularly critical to increasing access to care for rural and other underserved patients, as they are often the only health provider in these areas.
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The PA profession was created in the 1960s in response to a shortage of primary care providers and continues to grow today because of the same unmet need.
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PAs typically complete their education and training within two years, and can enter the workforce much more quickly than other graduate-level health professions.
PAEA IS CRITICAL TO ENSURING PAS ARE READY TO SERVE The system that educates PAs in the United States is the gold standard throughout the world. PAEA works to ensure that PA education programs maintain that level of excellence and can innovate to keep up with demand in this fast-growing profession. •
PAEA is the only organization that specifically represents the interests of PA education programs that are creating the next generations of these critical players on the health care team.
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PAEA actively works to address challenges facing the PA education system, including a shortage of faculty and lack of physical clinical training sites where PAs receive their hands-on experience with patients.
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PAEA is committed to expanding the number of PA graduates choosing employment in primary care and developing a broad range of clinical training opportunities for the burgeoning number of PA students across the country.
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There are 181 PA programs in the United States and 100% of them are members of PAEA.
PAS EMBODY THE CONCEPT OF A “HEALTH CARE TEAM” PAs work especially well in integrated care models because PA education is based on individuals working together on an interprofessional health care team. •
The PA practice model is, by design, a team-based approach to patient-centered care where the PA works in tandem with a physician and other health professionals. 1
PAEA and PA Profession - Key Messages – REVISED 01-10-14
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PAs have advanced education in general medicine and are able to diagnose, treat and prescribe medication for patients in collaboration with a licensed physician.
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PA students select this profession first because they want to help patients and because they want the flexibility this type of medical career provides.
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The PA practice model fits well into the patient-centered, medical home and accountable care organization models that are transforming the U.S. health care system.
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For other health professionals (physicians): With the ever-increasing demands on physicians, PAs are a cost-effective, viable way to extend your practice and meet patient needs in primary care and specialty/sub-specialty settings. PA skills are closely aligned with physicians’ as we’re trained in the same medical model. We understand the unique roles we each play in patient care. By definition, PAs do, and will always, work with physicians as part of a health care team. For policymakers: PAs are an often overlooked solution to the primary care crisis in this country, and to the access to care crisis among rural and underserved populations. PAs have advanced medical training modeled after physician education, and they can treat patients with significant autonomy. PAs are a cost-effective way to lessen the burden on physicians. Because PA education is a little over two years, they are able to quickly respond to the needs of the health care system. For patients/general public: Scheduling an appointment tends to be easier in clinics and doctors’ offices where PAs work because those offices can see more patients. PA education emphasizes listening and communications skills that are so important to patients when they interact with a health professional - ensuring questions are answered and detailed information is provided in a clear and understandable way. Being treated by a physician/PA team means you are getting the benefit of two people focused on making sure you are getting the best care possible. ###
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