A qualitative analysis of PA leaders in Kentucky

Abstract

Objective: To describe Kentucky's physician associate/assistant (PA) leadership pathway and provide advice for individual leadership trajectories.

Methods: A qualitative study using semistructured interviews and inductive coding methodology to identify themes of PA leaders.

Results: Participants were primarily female (76.2%), ages 35 to 44 years (52.4%), and White (90.5%). They were primarily nonclinical (38.1%), described achieving their current leadership role by pursuing opportunities (42.9%), showed emotional intelligence (61.9%), had grit (61.9%), and did not feel that academic success correlates to leadership (42.9%). Leaders also gave advice consisting of form connections, prioritize personal growth, develop an entrepreneurial mindset, and play to your strengths .

Conclusions: Leadership is needed in healthcare and PAs are primed to serve in this role. Previous leadership experience is not a requirement, but organization, emotional intelligence, and grit are required. Future PA leaders should follow the playbook laid out by these leaders and begin today with investing in personal leadership development.

FIGURE 1.

Proportion of inpatient services independently performed by APPs without simultaneous physician performance: Organizational data versus national benchmarks

FIGURE 2.

Cardiology telehealth encounters trend

FIGURE 3.

Inpatient APP cardiology encounters by provider. Colored bars represent the number of encounters per individual provider; brown line represents total encounters.

FIGURE 4.

Hospital medicine APP gross charges: 2022 versus 2023