TY - JOUR
T1 - State Scope of Practice Laws
T2 - An Analysis of Physician Assistant Programs and Graduates
AU - Valentin, Virginia L.
AU - Najmabadi, Shahpar
AU - Jones, Jeffery
AU - Everett, Christine M.
PY - 2020/12/1
Y1 - 2020/12/1
N2 - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to understand the association between physician assistant (PA) state scope of practice (SOP) laws and (1) PA program growth and (2) PA graduate demographics. METHODS: Scope of practice laws were categorized as ideal, average, and restrictive. Descriptive statistics by year and SOP categories were determined for the number of states, population density, PA programs, and PA graduate number, gender, race, and mean age. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyze demographic data by SOP categories. Adjusted risk ratios were generated for the number of PA programs and SOP categories. RESULTS: The number of PA programs is not associated with ideal SOP states. As of 2017, only 10 states have restrictive SOP laws. A minority of PA students now graduate from states with restrictive SOP laws. CONCLUSION: There is heterogeneity in PA SOP laws throughout the United States but only a minority of PA graduates now come from restrictive SOP states. This study provides foundational information prior to the implementation of optimal team practice.
AB - PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to understand the association between physician assistant (PA) state scope of practice (SOP) laws and (1) PA program growth and (2) PA graduate demographics. METHODS: Scope of practice laws were categorized as ideal, average, and restrictive. Descriptive statistics by year and SOP categories were determined for the number of states, population density, PA programs, and PA graduate number, gender, race, and mean age. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to analyze demographic data by SOP categories. Adjusted risk ratios were generated for the number of PA programs and SOP categories. RESULTS: The number of PA programs is not associated with ideal SOP states. As of 2017, only 10 states have restrictive SOP laws. A minority of PA students now graduate from states with restrictive SOP laws. CONCLUSION: There is heterogeneity in PA SOP laws throughout the United States but only a minority of PA graduates now come from restrictive SOP states. This study provides foundational information prior to the implementation of optimal team practice.
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U2 - 10.1097/JPA.0000000000000331
DO - 10.1097/JPA.0000000000000331
M3 - Article
C2 - 33136717
AN - SCOPUS:85096815770
SN - 1941-9430
VL - 31
SP - 179
EP - 184
JO - Journal of Physician Assistant Education
JF - Journal of Physician Assistant Education
IS - 4
ER -