About Us: Staff Information: Physician Assistant's Day
Physician Assistant's Day
Physician Assistant Profession Continues to Show Growth
The number of physician assistants- (PAs) in the United States continues to grow, and PAs play an increasing role in the health care system. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects that the number of PA jobs will increase by 53 percent between 2000 and 2010. The BLS predicts the number of jobs in the country will grow by 15 percent over this 10- year period.
PAs are licensed professionals who practice medicine as delegated by supervising physicians. They provide patient care services that would otherwise be performed by physicians. As part of their comprehensive services, PAs take medical histories, perform physical examinations, order and interpret lab tests, diagnose and treat illnesses, suture lacerations, assist in surgery, and write prescriptions in the State of South Carolina.
The State of South Carolina has also seen an increase in the number of PAs in practice. As of September 2002, there were 343 PA's employed in all fields of medicine, i.e. cardiology, family medicine, orthopaedics, cardio- thoracic surgery, internal medicine, neurology, dermatology, nephrology, general surgery, and physical medicine. Along the Grand Strand/Pee Dee Area there are approximately 50 PAs which is a 45 percent increase from 2 years ago.
On October 6, PA's around the United States, including the members of the South Carolina Academy of Physician Assistants will celebrate National Physician Assistant Day. It was on that day in 1967 that the first class of PA's graduated from Duke University in North Carolina.
PAs are employed by solo physicians practices, health maintenance organizations, group practices, nursing homes, and hospitals. PAs also serve as commissioned officers in all branches of the military and practice as members of the White House medical team caring for the President and Vice President.
A national report on physician assistants, working with physicians as a team showed that the solo physician who utilize PAs can increase the number of patients seen. Studies conducted by the Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research found patient satisfaction levels with physician assistants high, ranging between 89 and 96 percent. Aspects of patient satisfaction examined by the study included interpersonal care, confidence in provider, and understanding patient problems.
To learn more about physician assistants in the State of South Carolina, visit the South Carolina Academy of Physician Assistants web site at www.scapapartners.org or the American Academy of Physician Assistants web site at www.aapa.org.
Myrtle Beach, SC 29572