Since 2006, the physician assistant profession has grown 34 percent and is expected to continue growing, according to data from this year's American Academy of Physician Assistants annual survey.
This growth comes during a time when the nation is facing a growing physician shortage, which the Association of American Medical Colleges estimates will reach 90,000 by 2020. PAs can help fill in the gap by increasing patient access to healthcare.
For instance, 37 percent of PAs work in medically underserved counties in the U.S. Also, 16 percent of PA patients are uninsured, compared to 8 percent of patients treated by physicians, according to the survey.
The survey also found:
• A typical PA treats 3,500 patients annually.
• 80 percent of PAs provide acute care management.
• 64 percent of PAs provide chronic disease management.
• A typical PA writes 2,600 to 5,200 prescriptions each year.
• 86 percent of PAs report high job satisfaction.
Survey results are based on responses from more than 18,000 physician assistants gathered from March to July 2013.
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