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PAs are a solution to the growing need for clinicians to treat an aging population
Benjamin J Smith1, Timothy C McCall, Elaine M Slaven
1Benjamin J. Smith is director of didactic education and an assistant professor in the PA program at Florida State University in Tallahassee, Fla. He also serves on the audit committee of the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) and as a volunteer on AAPA's PA Research Team Initiative. Timothy C. McCall is associate director of surveys and analysis at AAPA in Alexandria, Va. Elaine M. Slaven is a data analyst experienced associate at Guidehouse in Washington D.C. Noël Smith is senior director of PA and industry research and analysis at AAPA. The authors have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.
Objective:
To elucidate the types of patients cared for by physician assistants (PAs), specifically older adults and those with complex medical conditions.
Methods:
A nationwide survey was sent to PAs asking about their practice demographics, including the complexity of their patients and the types of treatment they provide; 676 responded.
Results:
Less than 2% of PAs specialize in geriatrics but 92.1% of PAs see patients over age 65 years. Most PAs see patients with conditions associated with aging, including hypertension (85.8%) and osteoarthritis (82.1%) as well as those with three or more comorbidities (54.8%) or who are medically complex (52.8%).
Conclusions:
Although few PAs work exclusively in geriatrics, most PAs are providing medical care for older adults and patients with complex healthcare needs. PAs should be considered to fill healthcare needs that will continue to exist when caring for this patient population.
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