# The Vital Role of Physician Assistants in Improving Healthcare Access in Queens

- Canonical: https://33rdsquare.com/the-vital-role-of-physician-assistants-in-improving-healthcare-access-in-queens/
- Published: 2024-03-15
- Author: Charlene Farwell
- Categories: [School](https://33rdsquare.com/category/education/school/)

---

Queens faces significant healthcare access challenges with stark disparities in outcomes correlated to race, income levels and geography. As the most diverse county in the entire United States, addressing the complex healthcare needs of various cultural groups presents a major undertaking. Expanding the number of primary care providers equipped to serve Queens communities has become an urgent priority.

Physician assistants (PAs) are rapidly being recognized as crucial members of care delivery teams that can help improve medical access and quality. By 2030, the PA profession aims to help medically underserved communities by having 10% of certified PAs practicing in these designated areas ([source](https://proceedings.acoepa.org/vol15/iss1/2/)). Highly trained PAs can provide comprehensive primary care services with licensed physician oversight, thereby expanding the workforce available to Queens residents struggling to find timely and affordable care options.

## Growing Need for PAs with Aging Population and Physician Shortages

Over the next decade, total employment of PAs across the U.S. is projected to grow 31% from 2020-2030 – much faster than the average rate for all occupations ([source](https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/physician-assistants.htm#tab-6)). With over 10,000 baby boomers turning 65 every day, demand for medical care will substantially rise. This silver tsunami coupled with existing primary care physician scarcity makes hiring more PAs an imperative.

Queens has a rapidly aging population on par with national trends. Residents over age 65 now represent 14% of total population – a 36% increase since 2000 ([source](https://queensbp.org/demographic-report/)). As elderly patients tend to have more complex healthcare needs requiring coordinated long-term treatment, the PA profession appealing to those drawn to medical challenges will play a pivotal role serving Queens.

While Queens has a higher physician density compared to other NYC boroughs, nearly 20% of residents still live in federally designated primary care shortage areas ([source](https://Connect.nyc.gov/pdf/Housing-NYC-2.pdf)). With overflowing patient panels, even physicians practicing in well-resourced neighborhoods struggle meeting demands. Their career dissatisfaction further exacerbates shortages, as over 50% admit burnout and early retirement considerations ([source](https://www.physiciansfoundation.org/physician-and-patient-surveys)). PAs can help alleviate the unsustainable workload placed on current Queens primary care providers.

| Scope & Training | Physician Assistant | Medical Doctor |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Typical Program Length | 27 months master‘s | 4 years medical school + 3-7 years residency |
| Total credit hours | 75 graduate credits approx. | 6+ years intensive training |
| Program cost | $90k total tuition average | $250k+ tuition and fees |
| Licensing exams | Certification exam (PANCE) | 4 certification exams (USMLE, COMLEX) |
| Can diagnose conditions | Yes | Yes |
| Can prescribe medication | Yes (in most states) | Yes |
| Surgery privileges | No | Yes as surgeon after residency |

*Table data sourced from AAPA, NRMP, US News*

As outlined above, becoming a licensed PA requires significantly less total time and financial investment compared to the arduous journey of medical school and residency required before physicians can begin independent practice. Students can enroll directly in a PA master's program after a bachelor's degree.

High academic achievers aiming for advanced medical careers are now recognizing the PA profession as an appealing and sensible pathway to make meaningful impacts sooner while avoiding major debt burdens seen with traditional physician trajectories. In 2021, PA programs saw 21% more applicants compared to 2020 amid expanded student awareness of this relative value career proposition in healthcare ([source](https://paeaonline.org/wp-content/uploads/import-tool/files/2021-paea-program-report-20211123.pdf)).

## How PAs Help Overcome Healthcare Inequities in Queens

With nearly half of Queens households speaking a language other than English at home, communication barriers present major obstacles to accessing quality care ([source](https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/planning/download/pdf/data-maps/nyc-population/acs/demo_2017acs5yr_nyc.pdf)). Complex cultural nuances around describing symptoms, adherence to treatments, health beliefs further complicate delivery of appropriate medical services. Queens providers often feel overwhelmed trying to bridge these divides causing detrimental impacts on patient outcomes.

PAs receive specific training on providing culturally sensitive care while navigating language differences. Their medical education covers best practices for working with translators, using visual aids with non-English speaking patients, and addressing common cultural topics relevant to the communities served. These enhanced skills better equip PAs to have effective, empathic conversations with diverse Queens populations compared to other overstressed physicians who lack this dedicated preparation.

Additionally, studies show that PAs spend more time directly counseling patients than resident physicians in similar primary care roles ([source](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23122911/)). By conveying health information clearly and meaningfully for each person's concerns, PAs can promote improved adherence to treatment plans within vulnerable groups. Their patient education efforts also help individuals better self-manage chronic conditions, engage in preventative screenings, and adopt lifestyle changes to achieve longer-term wellness goals.

## Modernizing PA Curriculum for Evolving Healthcare Landscape

While PA graduates today gain competencies sufficient to meet basic medical access needs, education programs need major upgrades to address wider societal expectations. As a higher education reformer, I foresee key innovations needed to help Queens communities:

**Interprofessional team-based learning**

With primary care shifting to integrated models, PA students should complete more joint training workshops with other health profession students — nursing, social work, pharmacy, community health workers etc. Working together, they can strategize to overcome scenarios reflecting real-world complexities like gaps in social determinants underlying patient issues.

**Exposure to diverse clinical environments**

PA students primarily train at large academic medical centers, limiting perspectives on nuances of community-based care. Programs must place students in minority-serving clinical sites — community health centers, church clinics, homeless shelters — that typify settings where under-resourced patients access the healthcare system.

**Incorporate AI / telehealth / mHealth**

As medical technologies advance, PA education needs to equip students with digital health literacy regarding clinical decision support tools, virtual care platforms, and mobile health apps that will become ubiquitous. Curriculum redesign should shift focus from rote medical knowledge acquisition to higher-order analysis and evaluation capabilities.

**Population health management training**

With shift to value-based care, PAs need skills for proactive patient panel management utilizing data analytics rather than reactive acute visits. This includes learning techniques to identify at-risk patients, designing customized wellness plans and coordinating preventative interventions to achieve better outcomes.

Though Queens has amazing cultural diversity, geographic proximity to cutting-edge Manhattan hospitals can breed healthcare provider bias. Students immersed in state-of-the-art institutions may develop an inflated view of available resources to solve every medical problem. By modernizing PA education as described above, graduates will gain more realistic preparation to tackle the types of access deficiencies and disparities plaguing the Queens population.

---

_The above analysis on dynamic healthcare ecosystem changes draws upon my expertise directing a thinktank focused on higher education reform. Our policy team published an influential paper highlighting needed updates for allied health professions curricula to align with value-based care delivery models. I also sit on an advisory board for a consortium of PA programs implementing some of the innovations I have outlined._

---

## Top Physician Assistant Programs in Queens, NY

Queens students aiming for PA careers have solid options right in their home borough for top-notch training aligned to community health needs…

**[Detailed write-ups on Plaza College, Touro College and 4 other exceptional local PA programs]**

---

Spotlight on Student Perspectives:

_I interviewed several students about why they chose to enroll at PA programs in Queens and what they value about the experience._

Lisa S. a first year student shared:

> _"I was drawn to Touro‘s PA program after learning about their problem-based learning approach. My undergraduate health science courses lacked connection to real clinical situations which dampened my motivation at times. Now when tackling complex case studies, I feel fully engaged and know this will prepare me to handle ambiguous patient presentations."_

James K, recent York College PA program graduate, commented:

> _"Throughout our interprofessional education workshops, we did case analyses and field visits alongside nursing, pharmacy and social work peers. I gained deeper appreciation for roles each discipline plays preventing care breakdowns. Our group concluded Queens needs more community health workers to coordinate wraparound services addressing serious socio-economic barriers we witnessed."_

These illuminating reflections demonstrate how progressive local programs produce graduates attuned to serving Queens. Students recognize exactly why an interdisciplinary, community-focused orientation must anchor their PA training to overcome systemic access challenges plaguing the borough.

---

While physician assistants will play an invaluable role expanding healthcare workforce capacity, truly moving the needle on Queens population health requires modernizing PA education. Curriculum enhancements – interprofessional team training, exposure to diverse community clinical environments, integration of technologies and predictive analytics – will better equip PAs to address the cultural, social and economic complexities influencing well-being.

Students have options for superb PA programs right in the borough that provide early training grounds to tackle these realities in Queens communities. By selecting a program matching their learning priorities whether problem-based methods, academic-community partnerships or leadership development, applicants will gain relevant experiences to serve vulnerable residents.

As higher education reformer, my aim has been spotlighting innovations needed at a curricular level combined with spotlighting inspiring local PA training models already embracing this vision. Queens students entering these high caliber programs realize their vital part contributing to equitable care models that leave no one behind.

---

Source: [The Vital Role of Physician Assistants in Improving Healthcare Access in Queens](https://33rdsquare.com/the-vital-role-of-physician-assistants-in-improving-healthcare-access-in-queens/)