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Resources by Topic: Physician assistants

Trends in Primary Care Provision to Medicare Beneficiaries by Physicians, Nurse Practitioners, or Physician Assistants: 2008-2014
Examines trends in elderly patients receiving primary care from physicians alone, physicians with nurse practitioners (NPs) and/or physician assistants (PAs), and NPs/PAs without physicians. Considered these models for delivering primary care to Medicare patients with multiple chronic conditions and Medicare patients in rural and health professional shortage areas (HPSAs).
Author(s): Ying Xue, James S. Goodwin, Deepak Adhikari, Mukaila A. Raji, Yong-Fang Kuo
Citation: Journal of Primary Care and Community Health, 8(4), 256-263
Date: 10/2017
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The Influence of the Degree of Rurality on EMR Adoption, by Physician Specialty
Study examining the adoption of electronic medical record (EMR) technology based on degree of rurality using Rural-Urban Continuum Codes. Analyzes 2012 data from over 270,000 physician practices on rates of EMR technology adoption and provider specializations. Presents data based on average daily patient volume and type of provider, including nurse practitioners and physician assistants.
Author(s): Brian E. Whitacre
Citation: Health Services Research, 52(2), 616-633
Date: 04/2017
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Veterans Health Administration: Actions Needed to Better Recruit and Retain Clinical and Administrative Staff
Testimony before the House Subcommittee on Health and the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs detailing the Veterans Health Administration's (VHA) challenges in attracting, hiring, and retaining top healthcare talent, including in rural locations. Also discusses the VHA's capacity to perform key human resources functions and makes recommendations for future improvements.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 03/2017
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Learning by Doing: The MD-PA Interprofessional Education Rural Rotation
Describes the Combined Medical-Physician Assistant Student Rural Rotation (Med-PARR) program at the Oregon Health & Science University, in which pairs of third-year MD students and second-year PA students spend 5 weeks together in a primary-care-focused clinical rotation in a rural area.
Author(s): Ryan Palmer, Curt Stilp
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 17(1), 4167
Date: 03/2017
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Determinants of Oral Health Assessment and Screening in Physician Assistant Clinical Practice
Results of a survey of physician assistant graduates, focused on their education in oral health and if or how they included oral health screenings and referrals in their clinical practice after graduation. Data and statistics for rural health clinics included, along with contributing factors of care such as availability of dentists, lack of insurance, and cost of dental work.
Date: 12/2016
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Workforce Studies
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Clinical Training in the Rural Setting: Using Photovoice to Understand Student Experiences
Reports on a qualitative study of medical and physician assistant student training in 2 rural locations using photovoice, a participatory research methodology that combines photography and participant commentary.
Author(s): Emily M. Mader, Carrie Roseamelia, Sarah L. Lewis, et al.
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 16(2), 3877
Date: 05/2016
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How Could Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants Be Deployed to Provide Rural Primary Care?
Examines various methods that can be implemented to help nurse practitioners (NPs) and physician assistants (PAs) meet the increased need for primary care services in rural areas. Provides rural and urban data on the number of new insurance enrollees and estimated primary care visits that resulted from the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.
Author(s): Eric H. Larson, C. Holly A. Andrilla, Cynthia Coulthard, Joanne Spetz
Date: 03/2016
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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AzCRH 2015 Supply and Demand Study of Arizona Health Practitioners and Professionals
Provides an update on Arizona's healthcare workforce data derived from licensing boards, state and federal agencies, surveys, and interviews. Compares rural and urban workforce data and identifies strategies to moderate the workforce demand for rural health services.
Author(s): Joe Tabor, Nick Jennings, Lindsay Kohler, et al.
Date: 02/2016
Sponsoring organization: Arizona Center for Rural Health
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Models to Estimate the Economic Impact of a Rural Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant
Discusses the advantages of using nurse practitioners and physician assistants for the provision of primary care services to meet the workforce challenges in rural settings and how they contribute economically to the community.
Additional links: Summary
Author(s): Fred C. Eilrich, Gerald A. Doeksen, Cheryl F. St. Clair
Date: 08/2014
Sponsoring organization: National Center for Rural Health Works
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Projecting the Supply and Demand for Primary Care Practitioners Through 2020
Examines the adequacy of the future supply of primary care providers to meet the projected demand for primary care. Includes information on physician, nurse practitioner, and physician assistant supply and demand. Discusses likely causes of growth in demand for primary care, and potential impact of increased use of NPs and PAs on alleviating the primary care physician shortage. Section 8 of the full report discusses geographic disparities.
Date: 11/2013
Sponsoring organization: Health Resources and Services Administration
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