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Rent-a-MEDEX: An early PA prototype.

Donald Pedersen1, Roderick S Hooker

  • 1Donald Pedersen is a professor emeritus and former program director of the PA program at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City. Roderick S. Hooker is a health policy analyst. The authors have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.

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Summary

Physician associates (PAs) were introduced to rural primary care practices in the 1970s. An innovative marketing plan, Rent-a-MEDEX, demonstrated their ability to enhance access to quality, cost-effective healthcare.

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Area of Science:

  • Medical Education
  • Healthcare Policy
  • Primary Care

Background:

  • Physician associates (PAs) were a relatively new healthcare provider in the 1970s.
  • Physicians had limited awareness of PA capabilities and their potential role in healthcare delivery.
  • Rural primary care settings faced challenges in accessing healthcare services.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the impact of Physician Assistants (PAs) on healthcare access in rural areas.
  • To market the concept of PAs as a solution for increasing healthcare accessibility and efficiency.
  • To demonstrate the quality and cost-effectiveness of care provided by PAs in primary care.

Main Methods:

  • The study involved an innovative marketing initiative called Rent-a-MEDEX, funded partly by the Bureau of Health Resources Development.
  • Physicians in the Intermountain West were offered opportunities to gain firsthand experience with graduate PAs.
  • Internal studies from the University of Utah and University of Washington educational programs informed the initiative.

Main Results:

  • The MEDEX/PA model was shown to increase access to care in rural primary care practices.
  • PAs provided quality and cost-effective healthcare services.
  • Physician exposure to PAs through the Rent-a-MEDEX program facilitated understanding of their benefits.

Conclusions:

  • The Rent-a-MEDEX program successfully introduced PAs to physicians, highlighting their value in primary care.
  • PAs demonstrated potential to improve healthcare access and efficiency, particularly in underserved rural areas.
  • Early initiatives effectively marketed the capabilities of PAs, influencing their integration into healthcare teams.