A vast majority — 93 percent — of Americans who interacted with a physician assistant in the last year agree PAs are trusted healthcare providers, according to a nationwide survey.
The survey, conducted by Harris Poll on the behalf of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, included responses from 680 people who personally saw a PA or were present for the visit of someone they care for in the last year.
In addition to trusting PAs, respondents also agreed that PAs improve the quality of healthcare (91 percent) and improve health outcomes for patients (91 percent).
Americans also believe PAs can also help ease demand on the system — 91 percent of respondents agreed PAs will be part of the solution to address the provider shortage, and 92 percent said having a PA at a practices makes it easier to get an appointment.
"The survey results prove what we have known to be true for years: PAs are an essential element in the healthcare equation and America needs PAs now more than ever," said AAPA President John McGinnity, MS, PA-C. "When PAs are on the healthcare team, patients know they can count on receiving high-quality care, which is particularly important as the system moves toward a fee-for-value structure."