Poster Session I
Project Type
Poster
Faculty Mentor’s Full Name
Bret Tobalske
Faculty Mentor’s Department
Biological Sciences
Abstract / Artist's Statement
As the physician assistant/associate (PA) profession has broadened in scope throughout the United States from the mid-1960s to the 21st century, rural communities have received the greatest systemic effects. The expansion of health insurance through Medicare and Medicaid, combined with increasing physician specialization, created a greater need for general providers. Physician shortages in remote areas have contributed to patients experiencing decreased access to routine checkups, longer wait times, and constrained emergency resources. This has led to delayed diagnoses and preventable complications. In response, the PA profession has exploded in popularity to fill the gap in providing all-around care. Rural counties often face greater difficulty in attracting physicians, leading to a physician deficit. Statistical analyses in rural counties present a positive association between an increased physician-to-PA ratio and a decreased mortality rate. This study investigates the impact of physician assistant/associate integration in several aspects of healthcare. It applies statistical methods to evaluate the positive relationship between the measurable benefits of PA staffing levels and rural healthcare delivery. The analysis compares a variety of health metrics in rural populations before and after the expansion of the physician assistant/associate profession.
Category
Life Sciences
Impact of Physician Assistant/Associate Integration on Healthcare Quality, Accessibility, and Operational Capacity in Rural United States Communities
UC South Ballroom
As the physician assistant/associate (PA) profession has broadened in scope throughout the United States from the mid-1960s to the 21st century, rural communities have received the greatest systemic effects. The expansion of health insurance through Medicare and Medicaid, combined with increasing physician specialization, created a greater need for general providers. Physician shortages in remote areas have contributed to patients experiencing decreased access to routine checkups, longer wait times, and constrained emergency resources. This has led to delayed diagnoses and preventable complications. In response, the PA profession has exploded in popularity to fill the gap in providing all-around care. Rural counties often face greater difficulty in attracting physicians, leading to a physician deficit. Statistical analyses in rural counties present a positive association between an increased physician-to-PA ratio and a decreased mortality rate. This study investigates the impact of physician assistant/associate integration in several aspects of healthcare. It applies statistical methods to evaluate the positive relationship between the measurable benefits of PA staffing levels and rural healthcare delivery. The analysis compares a variety of health metrics in rural populations before and after the expansion of the physician assistant/associate profession.