The contributions of physician assistants in primary care systems. Health Soc Care Community 2012 Jan;20(1):20-31
Date
08/20/2011Pubmed ID
21851446Pubmed Central ID
PMC3903046DOI
10.1111/j.1365-2524.2011.01021.xScopus ID
2-s2.0-83555164927 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 65 CitationsAbstract
Shortages of primary care doctors are occurring globally; one means of meeting this demand has been the use of physician assistants (PAs). Introduced in the United States in the late 1960s to address doctor shortages, the PA movement has grown to over 75,000 providers in 2011 and spread to Australia, Canada, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Germany, Ghana and South Africa. A purposeful literature review was undertaken to assess the contribution of PAs to primary care systems. Contemporary studies suggest that PAs can contribute to the successful attainment of primary care functions, particularly the provision of comprehensive care, accessibility and accountability. Employing PAs seems a reasonable strategy for providing primary care for diverse populations.
Author List
Hooker RS, Everett CMAuthor
Christine M. Everett PhD, PAC Chief, Director, Professor in the Health Sciences Education department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Clinical CompetenceContinuity of Patient Care
Cooperative Behavior
Efficiency, Organizational
Health Services Accessibility
Humans
Patient-Centered Care
Physician Assistants
Primary Health Care
Professional Role
