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. 2020 Dec 4;12(12):e11900.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.11900.

Physician Assistant Utilization in Inpatient Psychiatry: A Qualitative Study

Shaun P Curran  1 , Mary Boyette  1 , Alexa Callison-Burch  1 , Joseph Hagloch  1 , Ryan Walsh  1 , Catherine Van Tassell  2 , Virginia L Valentin  1
Affiliations

Physician Assistant Utilization in Inpatient Psychiatry: A Qualitative Study

Shaun P Curran et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Objective There is a national shortage of psychiatric care providers, with approximately 1% of physician assistants (PAs) working in psychiatry. The study aimed to understand the utilization of PAs in inpatient psychiatry. Methods A qualitative study was performed utilizing semi-structured interviews focusing on PA autonomy, reimbursement, specialized certifications, training structure, and overall satisfaction with PAs in inpatient psychiatric care. Results Of the nine locations interviewed, four are currently using PAs, and five have never utilized PAs. All facilities utilizing PAs reported a decrease in physician workload with varying structures for training and billing, and required specialized certifications. Conclusion Most facilities surveyed do not utilize PAs and either preferred physicians or were unaware of the qualifications of PAs. Of the facilities utilizing PAs, there is wide variation in their utilization and reimbursement models; however, they reported a high level of satisfaction, reinforcing that PAs can provide high-quality care in inpatient psychiatric settings.

Keywords: inpatient psychiatry; physician assistant; workforce.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Facilities currently utilizing PAs in inpatient psychiatric care, responses by location
PA, physician assistant; NCCPA, National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistant; CAQ, Certification of Advanced Qualification.
Figure 2
Figure 2. Facilities not utilizing PAs in inpatient psychiatric care, responses by location
NP, nurse practitioner; PA, physician assistant.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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