Rachel Rana1, Melinda Blazar, Quincy Jones, Rita Butterfield, Christine M Everett, Perri Morgan. 1. In the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, N.C., Rachel Rana is a former research program leader, Melinda Blazar and Quincy Jones are assistant professors, and Rita Butterfield is a research program leader. Christine M. Everett is an associate professor in the PA program in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health and the Department of Population Health Sciences at Duke University School of Medicine. Perri Morgan is a professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health and a professor in the Department of Population Health Sciences at Duke University School of Medicine. This project was funded in part by a grant award from the Don Pederson Research Grants Program of the Physician Assistant Education Association (PAEA) in Washington, D.C., and from the Faculty Research Grant of the PAEA. Funding of this project does not necessarily constitute an endorsement of the findings of this research report. The authors have disclosed no other potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The objective of this project was to evaluate demand for PAs by examination of job postings. We compared proportions of PAs in primary care with proportions of job postings in primary care in 2014 and 2016 and described job postings for PAs by specialty in 2014 and 2016. METHODS: Internet job postings for PAs supplied by Burning Glass Technologies were evaluated for practice specialty. Job postings were compared with existing filled positions by specialty as reported by the National Commission for the Certification of Physician Assistants. RESULTS: In both years, more than 25% of PAs in practice were in primary care and fewer than 20% of job openings were in primary care. More than half of postings were in medical and surgical subspecialties. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide insights into which specialties have emerging high demand for PAs. The demand for PAs appears to remain much stronger for specialty jobs than for primary care jobs.
OBJECTIVES: The objective of this project was to evaluate demand for PAs by examination of job postings. We compared proportions of PAs in primary care with proportions of job postings in primary care in 2014 and 2016 and described job postings for PAs by specialty in 2014 and 2016. METHODS: Internet job postings for PAs supplied by Burning Glass Technologies were evaluated for practice specialty. Job postings were compared with existing filled positions by specialty as reported by the National Commission for the Certification of Physician Assistants. RESULTS: In both years, more than 25% of PAs in practice were in primary care and fewer than 20% of job openings were in primary care. More than half of postings were in medical and surgical subspecialties. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings provide insights into which specialties have emerging high demand for PAs. The demand for PAs appears to remain much stronger for specialty jobs than for primary care jobs.