The Physician Assistant in Rural Primary Care Practices: Physician Assistant Activities and Physician Supervision at Satellite and Non-Satellite Practice Sites

Nineteen practice sites in Iowa were studied to determine the differences in the types of physician (MD) supervision the physician assistant (PA) received at work at satellite (separate from the major practice site of the supervising MD) and non-satellite practice sites. The MDs supervised PA functi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Medical care 1979-08, Vol.17 (8), p.787-795
Main Authors: Ekwo, Edem, Daniels, Marvel, Oliver, Denis, Fethke, Carol
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Artificial satellites
Clinical Competence
Data collection
Family practice
Iowa
Medical practice
Medically Underserved Area
Patient assessment
Patient care
Pediatrics
Physician Assistants - statistics & numerical data
Physicians
Primary Health Care
Quality of Health Care
Referral and Consultation
Rural Health
Symptoms
Time Factors
Workforce
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Summary:Nineteen practice sites in Iowa were studied to determine the differences in the types of physician (MD) supervision the physician assistant (PA) received at work at satellite (separate from the major practice site of the supervising MD) and non-satellite practice sites. The MDs supervised PA functions in 12.9 per cent of the patients seen by the PAs at non-satellite and 15.9 per cent of patients they saw at satellite practice sites. All patients with presenting manifestations that suggested life-threatening conditions were seen by MDs at satellite and non-satellite sites. The MD spent 9.2 minutes per patient at satellite clinics, compared to 4.4 minutes per patient at non-satellite clinics. PAs working at satellite sites appeared to receive as much supervision as PAs working at non-satellite clinics.
ISSN:0025-7079
1537-1948
DOI:10.1097/00005650-197908000-00001