Abstract

Dr Holt

Mr Duhaime, Mr Villarreal, and Mr Young are excellent examples of the important role of physician’s assistants in the US healthcare delivery system and of the success of the physician/physician’s assistant team concept of patient care. These individuals have had extensive experience in providing health care in a variety of settings—military, community, and academic—and in primary care to specialty care. The manner in which they and their physician colleagues interact in patient care can serve as a future model for meeting the challenges of the larger patient population under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. I requested their perspectives on the role of physician assistants, with particular respect to the projected physician shortages projected under the act, to better understand how healthcare providers will need to function as a team, given the manpower constraints. Each perspective reflects their own experiences, dating from the early development of the physician’s assistant as a mid-level provider, and emphasizes for the readers how the physician extender is at once a capable healthcare provider and a clinical team member. Physician’s assistants represent dedicated healthcare professionals who also have an altruistic desire to help patients and contribute to the overall good of the community.