Survey finds that patients trust PAs

A new nationwide study confirms that patients believe physician assistants (PA) add value to healthcare teams and provide excellent patient service. The study, conducted by Harris Poll on behalf of the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA), surveyed more than 1,500 U.S. adults. Among 680 U.S. residents who have interacted with a PA in the last year (they personally saw a PA or were present for the visit of someone they care for), the survey revealed strong support for the care PAs deliver:

• 93% agree PAs will be part of the solution to address the shortage of healthcare providers
• 93% agree PAs are trusted healthcare providers
• 92% agree having a PA at a practice makes it easier for a patient to get an appointment
• 91% agree PAs improve health outcomes for patients
• 91% agree PAs improve the quality of healthcare

More than 100,000 certified PAs practice medicine throughout the nation and on U.S. military bases around the world. PAs practice in all medical settings, including hospitals, clinics, or physician’s offices, and in every medical specialty, including primary care, emergency medicine, surgery, oncology, orthopedics, psychiatry, radiology, pediatrics and more. The average PA will treat 3,500 patients annually, and will practice in two or three different specialties throughout his or her career, according to the AAPA.

Source: AAPA, Harris