In light of the recent decline in the percentage of physician assistants choosing careers in primary care, researchers examine the demographics associated with an increased likelihood of primary care practice among PAs in hopes that such knowledge may aid efforts to increase that number.
Analyzing data on more than 18,000 PAs from the 2009 American Academy of Physician Assistants Census Survey, researchers found the demographic characteristics associated with an increased likelihood of primary care practice are similar to those of medical students who choose primary care specialties.
Specifically, they found female, Hispanic and older PAs were more likely to work in primary care practice. Consequently, they conclude that workforce policy measures aimed at increasing the number of primary care physicians, such as loan repayment, improved levels of reimbursement for primary care physicians and expansion of Title VII Section 747 of the Public Health Service Act, are also likely to successfully increase the percentage of primary care PAs.
Title: Physician Assistants in Primary Care: Trends and Characteristics By Bettie Coplan, MPAS, PA-C, et al