The physician assistant profession has grown 34 percent since 2006 and is expected to continue growing, according to data from this year’s American Academy of Physician Assistants annual survey.
This growth comes during a time when the nation is facing a growing physician shortage, a gap PAs can help fill, the AAPA reports. For instance, 37 percent of PAs work in medically underserved counties, while 16 percent of PA patients are uninsured, compared to 8 percent of patients treated by physicians, according to the survey.
Locally, that demand has brought incoming UNTHSC physician assistant class sizes up to 75 students from around 40 students just a few years ago, says program chairman Hank Lemke. Part of that growth is because of the Affordable Care Act and its predicted effect on healthcare access, but much of it has been driven by good press and economics.
“We’re seeing a lot of applicants saying, ‘Wow, I can see patients and participate in the diagnosis, and write prescriptions,’” Lemke said in August. “And the income that PAs can expect to recover is pretty promising. When you can invest $30,000 or $60,000 and expect to earn $85,000 or $95,000 or more, that’s appealing.”
Want to publish your own articles on DistilINFO Publications?
Send us an email, we will get in touch with you.
Date: October 29, 2013