The PA profession is among the fastest-growing professions in
the US, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics� (BLS)
recently released 10-year projection for future job growth. PAs
rank fourth on the list this year. BLS predicts that the total
number of PA jobs in the United States will grow by 50% between
2004 and 2014. The total number of jobs in the country is
expected to increase by 13%, or 18.9 million jobs, between 2004
and 2014.
According to the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for
2006-2007, employment of PAs will grow at a much faster pace than
the average rate of employment through 2014. The anticipated
expansion of the health care industry and emphasis on cost
containment will result in the increased use of PAs by physicians
and health care institutions. More physicians, hospitals, and
health care centers will employ PAs. An aging US population, a
shortage of physicians in some specialties, the growing number of
uninsured patients, and restrictions on the number of hours
medical residents can work are all factors that will contribute
to the growing demand for PAs.
According to the BLS, the outlook for PAs in both rural and
urban settings is bright. Jobs for PAs will increase in
hospitals, academic medical centers, public clinics, and prisons.
These opportunities will continue to increase as the scope of
practice for PAs improves in many states. Ohio recently became
the 49th state to grant PAs drug prescribing authority. Other
health care jobs on the list of the 10 fastest-growing jobs
include home health aides, medical assistants, physical therapist
assistants, dental hygienists, and dental assistants.
Here is the answer to May's trivia question about
provider groups:
A combination of hospitals and physicians that agrees to
render specified services to a group of people, with care
furnished at discounted rates is called a preferred provider
organization (PPO).
