2010 was a record year for the number of practicing physician assistants (PAs) in the United States. The American Academy of Physician Assistants' 2010 Census Report found numbers of practicing PAs reached 83,466, up 100 percent from 10 years ago.
Even in a down economy, the Census Report noted, the profession continues to grow quickly.
“PAs are the only healthcare providers educated and credentialed with a primary care focus, providing a strong foundation for any specialty in which they may choose to practice,” said AAPA President Robert Wooten, PA-C, in a press release. “The information from AAPA’s salary and census reports clearly confirm what PAs and the healthcare world have known for years: The PA profession is growing rapidly, and it is key to expanding access to quality healthcare for millions of Americans.”
According to the report, female PAs outnumber their male counterparts by nearly 20,000 and more than 30 percent of PAs practice in primary care, making it the largest specialty sector.
Nearly 30 percent of PAs practice in single-specialty physician group practices, and 40 percent have been in their current primary specialty for at least six years. The Census also shows that PAs enjoy their work, as 66 percent indicate they are satisfied or mostly satisfied with their career.
While the majority of PAs are in clinical practice, an estimated 5,079 PAs work either alone or concurrently in healthcare education, administration, research and public health.
The nation’s physician shortage has contributed to the PA growth rate, believes Jennifer Metivier, executive director of the Association of Staff Physician Recruiters (ASPR).
“The physician shortage has, of course, become more extreme with the aging of the baby boomers and healthcare reform providing healthcare coverage for more and more people,” said Metivier. “The increasing supply of PAs and nurse practitioners most definitely helps address this shortage, and the demand for them is great.”
“PAs and (nurse practitioners) are also a cost-effective solution to providing patient care,” continued Metivier. She notes a Medical Group Management Association report cited by Roderick Hooker, MD, at ASPR's annual conference which said the 2010 mean salary for PAs and NPs was $92,000. In comparison, a family practitioner’s mean salary was $235,497. "Productivity is similar with physicians being slightly more productive," she said. "This data indicates that PA/NPs are extremely cost-effective for a practice.”
Even with this cost effectiveness, levels of care and patient satisfaction remain high with PAs as compared to physicians.
“Dr. Hooker indicates that a recent study shows that 85 percent of care can be delegated to PA/NPs with outcomes appearing to be the same and 90 percent of diagnoses overlapping,” said Metivier. “Interestingly, patient satisfaction was greater with respect to PA/NPs explaining information to patients compared to physicians. Perhaps the extra time that PA/NPs take to explain information to patients is the reason they have slightly lower productivity.”