Background
Physician assistants are health care professionals licensed, or in the case of those employed by the federal government they are credentialed, to practice medicine with physician supervision. As part of their comprehensive responsibilities, PAs conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery, and write prescriptions.
PAs are a valuable source of primary health care for rural and frontier communities. In addition to supporting the work of physicians who might otherwise leave rural practice, in many cases PAs provide primary health care services to remote communities unable to support a physician. Rural PAs also impact the profession by maintaining an important tie to one of its original tenets, increasing access to primary care in underserved areas.
The Indian Health Service utilizes PAs to extend health services and improve the quality of medical care provided to American Indians and Alaska Natives, and to extend the ability of IHS physicians to provide care. PAs employed by the IHS often practice in isolated settings where on-site physician consultation is not always available.
There are currently over 200 PAs meeting the health care needs of American Indians/Alaska Native people (AI/AN) through IHS programs.[1] PAs are working primarily in family practice, diabetes management and emergency rooms, as well as specialty programs such as chronic pain management, orthopedics, women's health clinics, and the training of community health aides.
There are 200 remote villages in Alaska with clinics that are managed solely by IHS PAs and nurse practitioners. These clinics will never get full-time physicians.
PAs employed by the IHS must be certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants and must maintain that certification throughout their employment with the IHS.
Challenges for PAs
PA retention and recruitment in IHS federal programs is challenged by an outdated federal qualification and classification system for PAs. It is difficult to recruit and retain new PAs at the GS 7 rating, and as seasoned PAs approach retirement it is difficult to replace them at adequate levels. There is a 22% turn-over rate and vacancy rate between 20-44% (depending on the location).
For further information, please contact:
Kristin Butterfield, Assistant Director, Federal Affairs
American Academy of Physician Assistants
Telephone: (703) 836-2272, ext. 3223
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
1. American Academy of Physician Assistants. 2007 AAPA Physician Assistant Census Report.
1/09
Physician assistants are health care professionals licensed, or in the case of those employed by the federal government they are credentialed, to practice medicine with physician supervision. As part of their comprehensive responsibilities, PAs conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery, and write prescriptions.
PAs are a valuable source of primary health care for rural and frontier communities. In addition to supporting the work of physicians who might otherwise leave rural practice, in many cases PAs provide primary health care services to remote communities unable to support a physician. Rural PAs also impact the profession by maintaining an important tie to one of its original tenets, increasing access to primary care in underserved areas.
The Indian Health Service utilizes PAs to extend health services and improve the quality of medical care provided to American Indians and Alaska Natives, and to extend the ability of IHS physicians to provide care. PAs employed by the IHS often practice in isolated settings where on-site physician consultation is not always available.
There are currently over 200 PAs meeting the health care needs of American Indians/Alaska Native people (AI/AN) through IHS programs.[1] PAs are working primarily in family practice, diabetes management and emergency rooms, as well as specialty programs such as chronic pain management, orthopedics, women's health clinics, and the training of community health aides.
There are 200 remote villages in Alaska with clinics that are managed solely by IHS PAs and nurse practitioners. These clinics will never get full-time physicians.
PAs employed by the IHS must be certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants and must maintain that certification throughout their employment with the IHS.
Challenges for PAs
PA retention and recruitment in IHS federal programs is challenged by an outdated federal qualification and classification system for PAs. It is difficult to recruit and retain new PAs at the GS 7 rating, and as seasoned PAs approach retirement it is difficult to replace them at adequate levels. There is a 22% turn-over rate and vacancy rate between 20-44% (depending on the location).
For further information, please contact:
Kristin Butterfield, Assistant Director, Federal Affairs
American Academy of Physician Assistants
Telephone: (703) 836-2272, ext. 3223
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
1. American Academy of Physician Assistants. 2007 AAPA Physician Assistant Census Report.
1/09
