HealthLeaders ANALYSIS. 4 PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT TRENDS TO WATCH IN 2019 BY CHRISTOPHER CHENEY | JANUARY 02, 2019 This year’s expected developments include a new electronic recertification process for physician assistants. \ i : KEY TAKEAWAYS a8 Wig! + Physician assistants are a dynamic segment of the healthcare workforce, with 4&8 in recent years. + In 2019. phusician assistants are expected to continue to olua staffina aps linked to the country’s physician shortage. ‘+ Reflectina the arowth of svecialtu care. ohusician assistants are shiftina from smimonueare to spesiaitycare This year will feature several significant trends and developments for physician assistants, says Dawn Morton-Rias, EdD, PA-C, president and CEO of the National ‘Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). Physician assistants (PA) are widely viewed as part of the solution to the country’s physician shortage. By 2030, the physician shortage Is expected to grow toas many as 120,000 doctors, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. Physician assistants are a dynamic segment of the healthcare sector workforce, according to NCCPA statistics released in July 2018. + From 2015 to 2017, the number of PAs grew more than 13%.—") argo yb «The number of PAs per physician rose 23% from 2015 to 2017, increasing to 128 PAs per 1,000 physicians. Two of the highest PA-per-physician ratios were occupational5 1,000 ‘ medicine at 621 PAs per 1,000 physicians and orthopedic surgery at 537 PAS per physicions. WHE pay sician * In 2017 the average solery of PAs maunecnyssmaa.og0 /\V !" ™ © The ranks of PAs are filled with relatively young professionals. In 2017, 78.5% of Physician assistants were @RISEMeTagrat aa, aw verre nti ey ( * The family medicine and general practice area had the highest concentration of Physician assistants (19.9%), followed by surgical subspecialties (18.5%). Morton-Rics expects four trends and developments wil significantly influence the Physician assistant profession this year. 1. EASING PHYSICIAN SHORTAGE Se Phusicion asistans wil. continue to play akey role in easing the countrys physician shortage, Morton-Rias says. ay “Given the youth ofthe profession, the broad-based knowledge and skis of Pas ond mh es the ability to provide services across all disciplines, PAs conlagephysican shortages / «4 an prove access to care” she says ‘The relatively young age of PAs—which averages about 38—and their Propensity to Stay in the profession is a bright spot in the healthcare workforce. “The attton rates very low, and when we compare the PA profession to some of the cther healthcare professions where the average age isin the 40s or 50s, there's concern because You have a bolus that wil be retiring out® Morton Rias says The relate youth of PAs helps address the physician shortage In ways beyond ctuarial considerations, she says. "The youth ofthe PA profession wil help in Increasing access to care. These ore youngsenengec fos who are entering the profession* exdTtd ¢ bight 2. MODERNIZING CERTIFICATION EXAMS A Gaul changer f the 10-year ing PAs to take the exam on their phone, laptop, Starting this month, NCCPA will start of recertification exam for PAs, allowir tablet, and desktop computers. “This essessment that we are piloting isin keeping withthe emerging trends in ezsessment and tllzing technology, Inthe PA profession, we have always relied onthe “esting methods where you satin atest center after memorizing a lot of informationMorton-Rias says, ‘The electronic platform NCCPA has developed is the frst major step toward nodermizing certification exams at the accrediting organization, she Says. “In this assessment method, Pits can answer questions in realtime, with about a minute wate to respond to a question. f they get the:questionight, they know aghitiawoy, soit = rat reaffirms their knowl eC ledge. f they get a questionwrong, they are egmrectedtrightawoy, © °°)’ cond they are given resources to improve their knowledge base* _ Other primary facets of the new assessment method include completing 25 questions each quarter (there are a total of 100 questions and PAs have 11 weeks to complete each 25-question set). The questions cover a broad swath of core medical knowledge, nd the assessment tool has the ability to allow test takers to delay answering questions that display images by switching from their phone or tablet to a device with a larger screen Pvt edo! 4 ynilerd “This assessment utilizes technology and it ia ‘waypeople preeice medicine today. Physicians are also starting to pilot this approach,” Morton-Rias says. 3. UPDATING STATE PA LEGISLATION Changes in the practice of medicine are prompting state lawmakers to reform the way PAs are regulated, Morton-Rias says. “States cre modernizing their legislation as it relates to PA practice because the healthcare industry has changed from PAs working for one doctor to more providers, ‘working in health systems. As this change has occurred, some of the states still have Laws that are outdated and dont rettect the new flexibility” (\\ gro, awe adapt ae eesaeeaaliaie She says the legislative changes include reforming scope of practice, supervision, and delegation af ouhorty, Sa\wiqy) ati Tivtrging, EXPANDING SPECIALTY CARE ROLES OOOO —rniomaing mire {ectlit a PAs oe sting away from tisFaasimpimary ce 0 special care Morton es says. "Although the profession began with primary care and general medicine mostly in underserved areas, medicine has become highly specialized and the PA profession is becoming specialized as well” ‘She says as many as 70%0f PAs are working|In specialty practice, including surgical specialties such as orthopedics, neurosurgery, and cardiothoracle surgery, atten UAL a ute Gat g 4 nua ontcamying S The transition to specialty care presents a challenge to PAs, she says. "PAS are ¢ ee MO Fesponsibilies. One is to maintain expertise in their current practice discipune; = ‘other is maintaining core medical knowledge that is useful across all disciplines.” id PAS are well-prepared to rise to the challenge, Morton-Rias says. "PAs have a very soli educational process and fount of knowledge that they develop through a rigorous educational training. It's a full-time immersion type of training, so PAS engage medicine Replace eS SAN CUCIN & pected Christopher Cheney is the senior clinical care editor at HealthLeaders.