title: Physician assistants in rural communities.
abstract: About 12% of all PAs work in rural settings, according to the 2013 Annual Survey of the American Academy of Physician Assistants. PAs in rural areas are more likely to practice in primary care specialties, have a wider scope of practice, and see patients who are uninsured or covered by Medicaid or Medicare. The positive effect of PAs on rural health has been demonstrated in extensive studies. PAs in rural areas are often the usual care providers for patients with chronic conditions, provide care that is cost effective and safe, and in certain cases increase access to care. Hiring a PA in a rural medical practice can have a salutary economic effect on the practice as well as the community.
authors.affiliation: James F. Cawley is professor of prevention and community health and professor of physician assistant studies at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and senior research fellow at the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) in Alexandria, Va. Steven Lane is senior writer at AAPA. Noel Smith is senior director of PA and industry research and analysis in AAPA's Division of Research. Elizabeth Bush was AAPA's senior vice president of member value and research when this article was written. The authors have disclosed no other potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.
authors.forename: James F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Cawley
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lane
authors.forename: Noel
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bush
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D010823:Physician Assistants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000191:economics*; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States