Recent statistics from CareerBuilder.com, the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, CNN and others show that the PA is one of the fastest growing professions in the country! The Department of Labor expects the PA profession to grow by 27% from 2006 to 2016 – much faster than the average for all occupations. CNN.com and Forbes.com rated the PA profession as the fastest growing health profession, and the fourth fastest growing profession in 2007.
Why are they important to my organization?
According to the AAPA, there are more than 68,000 PAs in clinical practice alone. The AASPA represents the 9,000 PAs who work in a surgical environment. More and more, PAs are decision makers. They:
- Write more than 170 million prescriptions annually.
- Play a vital role in the selection of surgical equipment, including instruments, barrier devices, drains, etc.
- Serve on education committees, medical supply, and equipment committees and more.
- Decide which products to use. A hospital selects its surgical equipment based on the demands of the surgeon. More and more, this decision falls to the PA.
- Contribute to a positive bottom line. Medical Group Management Association 2001 Physician Compensation survey found that the average total charges for a surgical PA in that year was $321,225.
- Are involved in the corporate world through education, product sales and consulting, and product development.
Why is the PA profession growing?
Several factors contribute to the rapid growth in PAs, especially surgical PAs, including:
- Cutbacks in physician surgical residency slots
- Laws requiring reduced resident work hours
- Increased reimbursement for PA surgical services
With fewer residents and a cutback in work hours, who will be using you products “after hours?” We believe it will be the surgical PA! Dr. Paul Freedman, a member of the American College of Surgeons Allied Health Committee has said that “PAs can be incorporated into teaching programs…and that full replacement of a 10% reduction in residency time would require 12,200 PAs.” Just imagine. That is 12,200 new people using your products or writing prescriptions.
Support AASPA Today
AASPA represents the unique needs and interests of the surgical PA. Building a corporate support relationship with us helps the PA profession, and our organization, to prosper while affording your company an exceptional venue for increased exposure and recognition.
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