title: Perceptions of frontline providers on the appropriate qualifications for battalion level care in United States Army ground maneuver forces.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The U.S. Army emplaces physician assistants (PAs) in its maneuver battalions. When contingencies arise, clinic-based physicians join them to augment capability. Because both entities operate similarly, the policy permits a comparison of perceptions of optimal skill sets for the battalion medical mission.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a survey to discover associations in opinion regarding the best qualifications for battalion care. We asked deployed PAs and physicians to rate themselves and their counterparts in eight domains. We hypothesized that both entities would rate PAs as superior based on their permanent presence at battalion level and their familiarity with the disease and injury patterns of their population.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 26 respondents, PAs awarded themselves a score of 8.3 +/- 0.3 out of 10 and a score of 6.5 +/- 0.5 to physicians. Physicians awarded PAs a score of 8.4 +/- 0.3 and themselves a score of 8.3 +/- 0.3.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Participants support the PA as an appropriate capability for battalion care in prolonged combat environments.
authors.affiliation: 3rd Infantry Division Headquarters, Division Surgeon Section, 942 Doctor Ben Hall Place, Building HQ 001, Fort Stewart, GA 31314, USA.
authors.forename: Richard G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Malish
authors.forename: Gail L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Maxwell
authors.forename: Ross
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Witters
authors.forename: Lilia Z
authors.initials: LZ
authors.lastname: Macias-Moriarity
authors.forename: Roger L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Gelperin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004650:Employee Performance Appraisal; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D054542:Iraq War, 2003-2011; D008875:Middle Aged; D008887:Military Medicine; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling; D010823:Physician Assistants / Q000458:organization & administration; D010820:Physicians; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce