An emerging pathway for physician assistant employment: podiatric PA

The physician assistant (PA) profession was created in the mid-1960s to expand access to primary care providers in critical shortage areas. The scope of the profession has evolved since then to include the majority of medical subspecialties. Historically, only allopathic medical doctors and doctors of osteopathic medicine have been allowed to supervise PAs. Podiatric medicine may prove to be another emerging job market if state legislatures will allow doctors of podiatric medicine (DPMs) to supervise PAs.

A bivariate analysis was done with PAs and DPMs in Tennessee who completed general surveys to assess their level of interest in working with the other and comparing that with the number of years each group had been in practice.

Surveys were completed by 217 PAs or PA students and by 25 DPMs. Both groups showed a clear interest for DPMs to be authorized to supervise PAs in the practice of podiatr ic medicine. Eighty percent of PAs and 83% of DPMs responded that their respective state associations should devote funds to support a legislative initiative to permit DPMs to supervise PAs in Tennessee. Sixty-two percent of PAs responded that they would consider working with a DPM, while 80% of DPMs responded that they would hire a PA if given the opportunity. Eighty-eight percent of DPMs surveyed felt that their practice would operate more efficiently if they were able to utilize PAs.

The addition of a PA to podiatric medicine is a logical extension of the PA's role in healthcare, and the inclusion of PAs into the field would help to satisfy the increasing demand for podiatric medical care.