The history and role of PAs in the US Coast Guard

Abstract

The US Coast Guard is a military service in the Department of Homeland Security charged with broad domestic and international missions. In 1971, the Coast Guard began recruiting physician assistants (PAs) in an effort to supplement physician staffing support. When first introduced, PAs were in the enlisted ranks. However, consistent with the other armed services, their entry ranks changed from enlisted to commissioned warrant officer and later to a commissioned officer status. As their numbers grew, PAs began augmenting and later replacing general medical officers assigned to treatment facilities and aboard ships. Their role is to keep the 43,000 men and women of the Coast Guard and their dependents healthy by providing medical care at 40 bases and stations. As of 2020, the Coast Guard has 47 commissioned PAs who work on shore postings, on polar-bound ice breakers, training ships, as faculty in the Interservice Physician Assistant Program, or as senior administrative officers. About one-third are female.