Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 23, 2026
07:50
Establishment of a Clinic-based Biorepository
Published on: May 29, 2017
"Elder" physician assistants and their practices
1Department of Physician Assistant Sciences, St. Francis College, Loretto, Pa, USA.
Summary
America's physician assistants (PAs) are aging, with older PAs increasingly caring for elderly patients. This trend has significant implications for primary care services, especially in rural areas.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Health Workforce Studies
- Physician Assistant Studies
Background:
- Physician assistants (PAs) are a vital part of the US healthcare system.
- The aging demographic of the general population necessitates a closer look at the aging healthcare workforce, including PAs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the phenomenon of an increasing number of older PAs in the US.
- To analyze the practice patterns of PAs aged 60 and older.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of practicing PAs aged 60+ was compared to the general PA population.
- Demographic variables, practice settings, and services provided were analyzed.
Main Results:
- PAs aged 60+ represented 1.6% of full-time PAs in 1998, with an average age of 64.
- Older PAs had longer practice experience and were more likely to hold doctorates.
- Elder PAs were more likely to serve older patients, practice in rural areas, and remain in rural practice longer.
Conclusions:
- A growing number of PAs continue practicing beyond traditional retirement age.
- Older PAs disproportionately care for elderly patients and prefer rural practice settings.
- The aging PA workforce has significant implications for clinical practice and health workforce planning, particularly for rural primary care delivery.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:21Interdisciplinary Care: The Health Care Team-I
An interdisciplinary team includes many healthcare professionals working together and utilizing their skills, knowledge, and expertise to provide holistic and quality patient care.
Physicians
The physician's primary responsibility is to diagnose illness and direct the medical or surgical treatment of the condition. The authority to admit patients to a healthcare agency or institution and practice care within that setting is granted to physicians by the healthcare agency or institution itself.
Physicians
The physician's primary responsibility is to diagnose illness and direct the medical or surgical treatment of the condition. The authority to admit patients to a healthcare agency or institution and practice care within that setting is granted to physicians by the healthcare agency or institution itself.
01:18Interdisciplinary Care: The Health Care Team-II
An interdisciplinary team includes many healthcare professionals working together and utilizing their skills, knowledge, and expertise to provide holistic and quality patient care. Here are a few more healthcare professionals.
Physical Therapist
A physical therapist (PT) aims to restore function or prevent additional impairment in a patient following an injury or disease. Massage, heat, cold, water, sonar waves, exercises, and electrical stimulation are some treatments used by PTs to treat...
Physical Therapist
A physical therapist (PT) aims to restore function or prevent additional impairment in a patient following an injury or disease. Massage, heat, cold, water, sonar waves, exercises, and electrical stimulation are some treatments used by PTs to treat...
01:17Healthcare Agencies II
There are various healthcare agencies in the United States—some of which are managed by religious institutions and others by different government branches.
Parish nursing is a growing specialty nursing profession that focuses on holistic healthcare, health promotion, and illness prevention. It blends professional nursing practice with a health ministry, focusing on health and healing within the context of a Christian community. Parish nurses serve as health educators, referral sources, and lay...
Parish nursing is a growing specialty nursing profession that focuses on holistic healthcare, health promotion, and illness prevention. It blends professional nursing practice with a health ministry, focusing on health and healing within the context of a Christian community. Parish nurses serve as health educators, referral sources, and lay...
01:30Methods of Documentation VII: EMR
Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) primarily center around electronically documenting patients' health information within a single healthcare organization or practice. They contain essential clinical data related to a patient's medical history, diagnoses, medications, treatment plans, lab results, and other pertinent information relevant to the specific encounter or episode of care. EMRs are designed to streamline documentation and workflow processes within individual healthcare settings,...
01:22Standards of Care I
Federal statutes profoundly impact nursing practice, providing critical guidelines to ensure patient care is equitable, accessible, and of the highest quality. The following laws address distinct aspects of healthcare provision and patient rights:
01:27Peripheral Artery Disease III: Interprofessional Care
Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) is characterized by narrowed arteries that diminish blood flow to the extremities. Effective management of PAD requires an interprofessional approach involving various healthcare professionals. The critical aspects of interprofessional care for PAD patients focus on risk factor modification, drug therapy, exercise therapy, nutrition therapy, critical limb ischemia care, and interventional radiology and surgical procedures.The primary treatment goal for PAD...