Physician extenders increase healthcare access.
To ensure rural residents access to primary care services, Saint Vincent Hospital and Health Center, Billings, MT, operates five physician-operated clinics, located between 8 and 81 miles from Billings. Two of the clinics are in communities that are not large enough to sustain a physician practice, so they are staffed by certified physician assistants (PA-Cs). Licensed and practicing with supervision of a physician, PAs provide a variety of patient care services in virtually every medical specialty and environment. One-third of the nation's PAs work in primary care health professional shortage areas, providing services comparable to those of a family practitioner. National studies reveal a high degree of satisfaction among both consumers and supervising physicians regarding the level of care provided by PAs. Professional liability claims against PAs are fewer than those against physicians, probably because of the higher degree of communication and attention patients receive as a result of the team approach. PAs can increase patient contact hours, decrease waiting times, and improve access to care overall. In addition, PA utilization is a cost-effective approach to healthcare delivery.
Saint Vincent Hospital and Health Center, Billings, MT.
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D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006744:Hospital Bed Capacity, 100 to 299; D006780:Hospitals, Rural / Q000458:organization & administration*; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D009009:Montana; D010823:Physician Assistants / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011369:Professional-Patient Relations; D012423:Rural Health; D000078329:Workforce