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This column reflects the opinion of the writer. Learn about the differences
between a news story and an opinion column.

Opinion >  Guest Opinion


LEAH HAMPSON YOKE: PAS KEY TO IMPROVING HEALTH CARE ACCESS

Thu., Oct. 6, 2022

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By Leah Hampson Yoke, PA-C, MCHS

By Leah Hampson Yoke, PA-C, MCHS

Perhaps it has happened to you or a family member or friend. You call to
schedule a medical visit to address a significant issue, only to be told that
the next available visit is not next week, but actually months away.

When dealing with a medical issue, not being able to receive timely treatment
can have serious and often life-altering consequences. Whether a patient is
seeking a routine appointment or in need of critical emergency care, assurance
that a community health care system can provide the diagnosis and treatment for
their situation in a reasonable time frame is imperative.

To ensure that every patient has access to and receives the high-quality care
that they need when they need it, it’s essential that our existing health care
workforce can practice to the full extent of their education, training and
experience. Physician assistants, also known as PAs, are part of this medical
team that must be used fully in order to meet the demands of today’s modern
health care needs.

Our health care system is facing a “perfect storm.” Demand for medical providers
is outpacing supply. More than 96 million Americans lack adequate access to
primary care and more than 155 million Americans lack access to mental health
care. On top of those stagger numbers, by 2026 our nation is projected to face a
shortage of up to 3.2 million health care workers. Combined with a growing aging
population, significant percentages of the U.S. population experiencing chronic
diseases like obesity (42% of adults aged 20 and over) and diabetes (more than
37 million Americans), and the lingering effects of COVID-19, we have reached a
tipping point.

America’s more than 159,000 PAs are licensed clinicians who practice medicine in
every specialty and setting and in every state. In Washington state alone, there
are over 3,500 licensed PAs – each a trusted, rigorously educated and trained
health care professional. PAs are dedicated to expanding access to care and
transforming community health and wellness through patient-centered, team-based
medical practice in a multitude of specialties and practice settings.

A 2022 study from the National Commission on Certification of Physician
Assistants (NCCPA) found more than 66% of patients received care provided by a
PA, demonstrating that the demand for PAs has never been higher. With more than
500 million annual patient visits, PAs are a crucial part of the solution to
today’s workforce shortages which are crippling health care and they are
critical to ensuring patients have access to quality health care when and where
they need it. With a projected 31% increase in PA employment between 2020 and
2030, it is evident that the growth of this profession has an essential role in
health care sustainability.

Today’s health care challenges require modern solutions and PAs are at the
forefront of this. Continued modernization of practice law will allow our
patients to receive timely access to high-quality care. So the next time you
call for a medical visit for a health issue, you won’t have to wait for months.
Instead, you can be seen by a PA.

Leah Hampson Yoke, PA-C, MCHS, is the chief PA for UW Medicine and is a
practicing infectious disease PA and clinical faculty member at the University
of Washington School of Medicine and Fred Hutch Cancer Center in Seattle.

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