Introduction
Since the late 1960’s, Physician Assistant (PA) profession have been an important occupation in healthcare fraternity. Although the profession is relatively younger compared to other professionals in healthcare systems, Physician Assistant profession has turned out to be a decisive component in health delivery systems. However, just like any other healthcare professional, Physician Assistants have some outstanding opportunities and regrettable challenges. Contemporary Physician Assistants operate in an environment that is completely different from the one that existed 30 years ago (Colwill, Cultice & Kruse, 2008). The knowledge on some of the future opportunities in Physician Assistant profession is therefore critical for modern Physician Assistant students and practitioners. Moreover, an in-depth understanding of some of the challenges that are likely to face the profession in the future is essential in the identification of the most effective strategy to combat the emerging challenges.
Important opportunities in Physician Assistant profession in 2014 and beyond
Global healthcare experts have found out that globalisation has turned the world into a global village. There is close integration and interaction between healthcare professionals from different cultural and racial backgrounds. As a result, the globalisation of Physician Assistant professions is an exceptionally indispensable opportunity in the profession in 2014 and beyond. The global spread of Physician Assistant profession is medical work force phenomena that have its roots in the late 20th century. Owing to shortage of healthcare professionals especially in rural areas, the demand for Physician Assistant profession in modern hospitals has significantly raised in the recent years. Furthermore, with the rise in healthcare costs and increase in physician specialisation, the need for Physician Assistant is expect to increase significantly in the near future. The increase in demand of Physician Assistant profession in the global job market will as a result, provide an essential opportunity for Physician Assistant in future local and international market.
In addition, due to the shortage of human capital in clinical workforce, countries around the world have come to appreciate the importance of Physician Assistant profession in the healthcare system. At the same time, despite an increase in the number of students who are venturing in healthcare practices, there has been an alarming attraction of specialisation in modern healthcare institutions. Therefore, a part from increasing demand and quality of Physician Assistant profession, modern healthcare needs create various opportunities for existing and future Physician Assistant professionals.
Modern global healthcare administrations have embarked on the Physician Assistant expansion programs. The core aim of these programs is to ensure that healthcare training institution trains Physician Assistant professionals on their role and responsibility. Therefore, numerous resources are set aside to ensure the success of these programs. So far, the already established Physician Assistant programs have proved to be essential in advancing Physician Assistant opportunities in the global market. For instance, more than 400,000 students globally were proved eligible to practice Physician Assistant role in modern healthcare institutions in 1998. The number has increased drastically in the recent five years. Contemporary Physician Assistant programs also aims at ensuring that Physician Assistant students and professionals understand the important of multidisciplinary teamwork, patient education, outcomes measurement, and primary care in their services delivery. On the other hand, numerous healthcare systems are planning and executing initiatives that will make sure that Physician Assistant professionals understand and appreciate the significance of improving the society health, accountability and transparency, and customer’s knowledge and satisfaction.
Intensive Physician Assistant programs have proved effective in ensuring that Physician Assistant professionals fit in modern and future market-driven health systems. Contemporary market-driven health systems emphasises on the importance of a productive relationship among all professionals in healthcare systems. Initially, healthcare systems were not aware of the role and importance of Physician Assistant in their service delivery. However, with the introduction of Physician Assistant programs, the demands for Physician Assistant services have increased considerably. The increase in the demand for Physician Assistant services has resulted to increased opportunities for Physician Assistant profession (Polansky, 2007).
The two most important challenges facing the Physician Assistant profession
One of the prime challenges for Physician Assistant profession is the increasing competitive market. Presently, the number of healthcare institutions willing to employ Physician Assistant in the future has been a major challenge for this profession. With the number of alternative non-physicians clinicians per capita expected to growth by 60% in 2014, the Physician Assistant professionals are likely to face severe employment competition. Although many healthcare experts have described the competition between physicians and non-physicians as inevitable, these competitions present a challenge among the new recruits. Recent survey has confirmed that inexperienced Physician Assistant professionals are encountering serious job competition in their endeavours of searching for employment (Polansky, 2007). Although their jobs are flexible, there are many healthcare professionals who have the capability of offerings the services offered by the Physician Assistant professionals in modern healthcare institutions. The increase in the number of students who are capitalising on the specific areas such as paediatrics is also likely to pose a severe market competition in the future.
The relationship between Physician Assistant professional and other practitioners in the healthcare system is likely to continue to be a major challenge in the healthcare sector. Contrary to other markets in healthcare system, Physician Assistant market is a derived one. This is because the Physician Assistants are in most cases dependant practitioners. The success of Physician Assistant professionals’ services largely relies on the services of other healthcare professionals. Therefore, lack of independence in service delivery has been a major challenge in examining the value of services that are offers by the Physician Assistant professionals in the contemporary healthcare system.
Moreover, Physician Assistants are always under the supervision of other healthcare professionals. The micro management of Physician Assistant by other healthcare professional does not only undermine the significance of their services in the healthcare system, but it also undermines their professional and personal development. Healthcare professionals and scholars also describe the work of Physician Assistant as a subordinate responsibility. Despite studies confirming the importance of Physician Assistant services in healthcare settings, modern healthcare systems are reluctant in according this profession the required support and respect (Polansky, 2007). The current role and position of Physician Assistant is likely to discourage students from pursuing this professional. Recent decade has also witnessed radical transfer of Physician Assistant from their current position to other position in an organisation. This means that the absence of immediate measures for averting this challenge will result to a situation where Physician Assistants face detrimental challenge in their service delivery in future.
Strategies that Physician Assistant Profession may use to address these challenges
Physician Assistants need to remain focused and rooted to their primary care role to deal with the identified challenges in the profession. Remaining focused in their activities will define their role and position in the society and among healthcare professionals. Although PAs do not have a precise specialization area, they need to understand their position and role in the healthcare system. Furthermore, lifelong learning will be an essential aspect in addressing Physician Assistant challenges in their service delivery. Intensive and continuous training will significantly advance the existing unproductive relationship between Physician Assistant and other healthcare professionals.
With modern rapid change in healthcare systems, seminars and conferences can also be a mean of enhancing the PA value in contemporary healthcare systems. Policies and regulations that govern the operations and promotions of Physician Assistant need transformation to give these professionals an opportunity to develop professionally. PAs need to be knowledgeable on modern and emerging management and supervisions skills to advance their chances of getting a promotion and other privileges in healthcare systems. PAs also need to understand the most effective skills and competence essential in working with patients in any health settings to advance their employment opportunity in modern and future competitive market. Under the current setting, Physician Assistants have an essential role to play in helping patients to be more active in their care. The interrelationship between healthcare professionals and customers knowledge on their health condition is a critical component in the healthcare profession (Cooper, 2007). Therefore, adequate customers’ interrelation skills will significant advance Physician Assistant position in the job market.
References
Colwill JM, Cultice JM, and Kruse RL. (2008).Will generalist physician supply meet demand of an increasing and aging population? Health Affairs, 27(3), 232-241.
Cooper R. (2007). New directions for nurse practitioners and physician assistants in the era of physician shortages. Academic Medicine, 82(9), 827-828.
Polansky, M., (2007). A Historical Perspective on Postgraduate Physician Assistant Education and the Association of Postgraduate Physician Assistant Programs. Journal of Physician Assistant Education 18 (3): 100–108.
