Advocacy

Physicians show overwhelming support for physician associates (PAs) as a solution to current health care provider shortages and access challenges, according to a survey commissioned by the American Academy of Physician Associates (AAPA).

As a Physician Assistant (PA) with 14 years of experience, an educator, and a leader in Kentucky’s PA community, I am deeply frustrated by the persistent resistance to modernizing PA practice laws in our state.

Modernizing Chicago’s outdated health care system must be a top policy priority in this year’s legislative session in Illinois.

More than 30 South Dakota physician associates/assistants rallied at the state capitol on Wednesday, February 12, to urge lawmakers to support HB-1071.

Each year, U.S. News & World Report lists the best jobs in the United States based on a unique methodology, considering factors like salary, work-life balance, and job stability. This year, the role of physician assistant/associate (PA) not only ranked high on the periodical’s Best Health Care Jobs (#2) and Best STEM Jobs (#3) but also jumped two spots to achieve third place across all occupations.

Like many healthcare positions, physician assistants or “PAs” are in high demand in the state of South Dakota and a bill in the state legislature aims to make South Dakota a more attractive place for the profession.

The South Dakota House of Representatives voted Wednesday to advance a bill that would let physician assistants (PAs) practice without collaborative supervision agreements from a physician if they’ve been certified nationally and have completed 2,080 practice hours.

Since inception back in the 1960s, the physician assistant (PA) role has become a cornerstone of healthcare, filling jobs in every area from primary care to surgery. And in the last six decades, the role has evolved significantly from supporting doctors into independent care providers with broader responsibilities.

Efforts to make it easier for physician assistants to practice in multiple states are gaining traction, boosting opportunities to recruit and retain both medical professionals and patients.