Manchester, Maine, Oct. 17, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, when you “go to the doctor,” it doesn’t always mean you’ll see a physician. Instead, you may find your care in the hands of a PA (physician assistant) — and for a good reason.

As healthcare continues to evolve, it looks more and more like a team sport. And in the end, that’s better for patients, who benefit from the skills and expertise of the entire healthcare team, including PAs.

PAs are medical providers who diagnose illness, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications, and serve as your primary care provider. You’ll find them in every state, every medical setting, and every specialty. 

In Maine, there are close to 900 PAs, with many practicing in rural areas. PAs in Maine complete an average of 62 patient visits per week, and lessen appointment wait times for patients so they can receive care more quickly.

While PAs’ specific duties depend on where they work, their experience, their specialty, and specific state laws, PAs perform most of the same tasks as the physicians with whom they collaborate.

PAs are critical to patients’ healthcare, especially in rural areas that have fewer physicians. But unfortunately, Maine’s laws are creating barriers that prevent PAs from caring for patients. Currently, PAs in Maine are required to have an agreement with a specific physician in order to practice — and Maine law also dictates how PAs and their physicians interact.

Maine faces a shortage of healthcare providers, and the state’s outdated and restrictive laws are hurting — not helping. The processes that PAs and their collaborating physicians are required to follow are onerous and unnecessary, and make it difficult for PAs to be as effective as possible. Qualified and willing PAs should not be held back by outdated and obstructive state laws.

In fact, a June 2018 study conducted by the Hamilton Project, an economic research group and think tank within the Brookings Institution, concludes that removing barriers to PA care would alleviate healthcare shortages, and would improve efficiency and productivity in the delivery of healthcare — all with no adverse effects on patient outcomes.

Across Maine, rural areas and medically underserved communities need more easily accessible providers. In the end, it’s really patients who lose when state laws and regulations get in the way.

Demand for PAs is high — the profession is expected to grow 37 percent by 2026, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. More and more students are choosing the PA profession, and in underserved areas with limited access to healthcare, that influx of PAs will help to fill the gap.

“We need an environment that allows PAs and physicians to make their own decisions about how they can work together for their patients, rather than following an outdated rulebook,” said Gretchen Preneta, MSPA, PA-C, president of the Maine Association of PAs. “It’s time to modernize PA practice in Maine.”

PAs are well-prepared to meet Maine’s provider shortage. Whether you live in a rural, an urban, or a suburban area, your PA will provide you with high-quality medical care.

To learn more about PAs, visit MainePA.com.

Attachment

• AAPA-026

Maine Association of PAs
207-620-7577
MEAPA4ME@gmail.com

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