The Emerging Role Of The Physician Assistant In The Medical Field

The physician assistant (PA) profession was developed during the early 1960s as a response to growing demands in the medical field and the patient's desire for more accessible physicians and care. The developer of the physician assistant profession provided a solid start, helping it to grow into a position that is currently spreading across the globe. In the United States, PAs are now practicing in every state and recent health care reform through the Affordable Care Act has increased the demand for PAs and thus provided an environment for the number of PAs to continually grow. Presently and in the future, PAs will continue to extend the reach of physicians as the ever increasing medical needs of patients becomes more difficult to adequately satisfy. The role of the PA has already undergone significant expansion and as the medical field advances, the role and demand for physician assistant will continue to increase and adapt.