HOW PA SCHOOL CAN HELP ALLEVIATE THE ONCOMING PHYSICIAN SHORTAGE
The U.S. has been experiencing a shortfall in physicians over the past few years, which only worsened over the course of the pandemic. And with more physicians retiring, the Association of American Medical Colleges has forecasted that there will be a shortage of approximately 139,000 doctors by 2033. To address this, Dr. Sanjay Basu of Harvard Medical School emphasizes the need for a whole team of primary care providers, which includes physician assistants (PAs). These professionals not only assist physicians currently in the field, they also improve how effective patient care is across the board.
THE IMPORTANCE OF PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS IN ALLEVIATING THE PHYSICIAN SHORTAGE
PAs are integral to primary care teams as they can reduce the demand on doctors. These individuals work interdependently with doctors in different medical settings. As such, they are licensed to assess, treat, and even prescribe medication to patients.
It’s no surprise that patients experience positive outcomes when they are looked after by physicians and PAs. A review on PA care in the U.S. revealed that the patient satisfaction with PAs and doctors is relatively the same. Patients who were under the care of PAs also experienced similar results as those handled by nursing practitioners. This emphasizes that PAs are not only qualified members of a primary care team; they are also central in boosting patient satisfaction.
In addition to improving healthcare operations, PAs can also help in circumventing the physician shortage given that they can become competent healthcare professionals in a shorter amount of time. An article in the American Journal of Managed Care points out that PAs need to complete a two-year master’s degree then pass the certification exam to be qualified for healthcare work. On the other hand, doctors need to complete over five years of additional training before becoming primary care physicians. It’s important to note that while PAs cannot outright replace physicians, they can lend a hand in expediting routine healthcare processes. Therefore, PA schools are crucial in producing qualified healthcare professionals.
THE ROLE OF INDUSTRIES IN PREPARING PAS FOR THE PHYSICIAN SHORTAGE
As previously mentioned, the Association of American Medical College predicts that the physician shortage will only continue to increase over the next decade. To alleviate this problem, educational institutions and healthcare facilities must work hand-in-hand in producing more healthcare workers.
First and foremost, hospitals must invest resources in hiring PAs to ensure that they have a complete primary care team that can address their patients’ needs. Hospital leaders with health administration qualifications will be vital in the recruitment process because they are skilled in health informatics and analytics. This enables them to utilize data in improving the administrative and financial aspects of the PA’s recruitment process. By investing in recruiting and managing PAs, more of these professionals will be encouraged to join the workforce.
Next, PA schools need to equip their students with the technical skills and knowledge needed to be PAs, so that they can help in diagnosing and treating patients. Their background in core healthcare courses as well as their experience in clinical practice ensures that they can provide quality healthcare services. These comprehensive educational programs guarantee that PAs will be able to cover a wide range of medical cases, even amidst a physician shortage.
PAs are a vital resource in healthcare. Institutions need to invest in training and recruiting PAs who can assist in healthcare facilities. This not only boosts the efficiency of healthcare processes, it also diminishes the negative effects that are leading to the growing physician shortage.
Written by Lily Audrey Clarke
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