183 Million Patient Visits Made to Physician Assistants in 2002

11/18/2002

From: Nancy Hughes, 703-836-2272, ext. 3505 E-mail: nancyh@aapa.org Gabriella Madden, 703-836-2272, ext. 3501 E-mail: gmadden@aapa.org Both of the American Academy of Physician Assistants

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 18 -- Approximately 183 million patient visits will have been made to physician assistants (PAs) in 2002, according to data collected for the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) PA Census Survey. AAPA estimates that approximately 233 million medications will have been prescribed or recommended by PAs during the same period.

AAPA estimates there will be approximately 46,002 people in clinical practice as PAs at the beginning of 2003. New York and California are projected to have the largest number of practicing PAs, and Mississippi is projected to have the smallest number.

The mean number of visits per week was greater for PAs practicing general pediatrics, family practice medicine, and emergency medicine (95, 95, and 93 visits, respectively) than for PAs practicing in other specialties. The mean number of prescriptions written per visit was greater for PAs practicing general internal medicine (1.5) than for PAs practicing in other specialties.

During 2002, more PAs practiced family medicine than any other specialty. These PAs accounted for approximately 40 percent of the patient visits made to PAs during 2002 and approximately 46 percent of the total number of medications prescribed or recommended by PAs that same year.

A copy of the Information Updates on Projected Number of People in Clinical Practice as PAs as of January 1, 2003, and Number of Patient Visits Made to Physician Assistants and Number of Medications Prescribed or Recommended by Physician Assistants in 2002 are available on the Web at http://www.aapa.org/research/index.html.

Physician assistants are licensed health professionals who practice medicine as members of a team with their supervising physicians. PAs deliver a broad range of medical and surgical services to diverse populations in rural and urban settings. As part of their comprehensive responsibilities, PAs conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery, and prescribe medications.

AAPA is the only national organization to represent physician assistants in all medical and surgical specialties. Founded in 1968, the Academy works to promote quality, cost-effective health care, and the professional and personal growth of PAs. For more information about the Academy and the PA profession, visit the AAPA's Web site, http://www.aapa.org.