Hiring a physician assistant? Here’s what you need to know
Hiring a physician assistant for your medical practice is a smart move. Physician assistants, or PAs, are a great way to provide high-quality medical care to your patients while managing costs and generating revenue.
Physician assistants are skilled medical professionals that complete three years of training and can “can perform up to 80 percent of the services that physicians provide,” according to Staff Care.
PAs work collaboratively in teams with other care providers to provide patients with the medical care they need.
As a physician shortage looms in the United States, now is a perfect time to expand your staff to include more PAs.
Why hire a physician assistant?
Physician assistants are highly trained medical professionals that complete 26 months of education that includes classroom time and clinical rotations before entering the field. Certified PAs are required to complete 100 hours of continuing education every two years and must pass a recertification exam every 10 years, according to the American Academy of Physician Assistants.
Because of the shorter length of training time, physician assistants are more readily available than traditional physicians and are easier to hire.
They are also trained as generalists, making them highly versatile in any practice.
PAs are a cost-effective option to staffing your practice. A 2009 study cited by the American Academy of Physician Assistants showed that physician assistants “can generate up to four times their incomes.”
The AAPA also found that “patients are just as satisfied” with PA-provided care as they are with doctor-provided care “and do not distinguish between types of care providers
How to hire a physician assistant
Are you ready to hire a physician assistant? Before you begin your search, make sure you are completely up-to-date on all laws governing the practice of medicine in your state. Also, a general knowledge of Medicare and 3rd party insurances billing for reimbursement. Know what you are looking for and how you hope a PA will compliment your team.
There are several ways to find qualified and certified PAs. You can post a job using a professional job board, like the one provided by the AAPA. Or you can work directly with a recruiter, such as Physician Assistant Solutions.
Ready to expand your practice and offer your patients more high-quality, cost-effective healthcare? Contact Physician Assistant Solutions today.