title: Caring for the disadvantaged: the role of physician assistants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We investigated community health centers (CHCs) and the roles of physician assistants (PAs) within them. Our goals were to broadly describe PA practice characteristics within CHCs, to explore why PAs work in CHCs, and to understand patient perspectives of PAs.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated 10 CHCs in Texas (5 urban and 5 rural), using an ethnographic approach to examine attitudes and beliefs of PAs, medical staff, and patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Nine of the 10 clinics used PAs interchangeably with physicians, and most medical staff and patients perceived few differences between them. Patients view all providers as highly effective and genuinely concerned for their patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found that clinicians and staff believe in the work they do, report that they function as a team, and seem to like their roles. It appears that working with the medically underserved and economically disadvantaged enables PAs to thrive.
authors.affiliation: Lisa R. Henry is associate professor and chair of the department of anthropology at the University of North Texas in Denton, Tex. Roderick S. Hooker is a retired PA. The authors have indicated no relationships to disclose relating to the content of this article.
authors.forename: Lisa R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Henry
authors.forename: Roderick S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Hooker
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003151:Community Health Centers / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010823:Physician Assistants; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D024382:Professional Role; D013781:Texas; D035862:Vulnerable Populations; D000078329:Workforce; D055815:Young Adult