Physician Assistants: Expanding access, elevating care

Each year during PA Week (Oct. 6-12), we’re reminded of the contributions of the almost 190,000 physician associates/assistants (PAs) who care for patients every day. In communities like Houston, the impact of PAs is felt daily – in clinics, homes, urgent care centers and hospitals, where they work hard to deliver high-quality, accessible care.

As a PA student, this week serves as an annual reminder of why I chose to become a PA. One of the fastest-growing professions, PAs are committed to making a difference in healthcare. PAs are highly trained clinicians who practice medicine in every specialty and setting and are grounded in their dedication to expanding access to care and providing patient-centered care in team-based settings. PA Week is an opportunity to spotlight the essential role PAs play in shaping a more efficient healthcare system.

In Texas, particularly in rural and medically underserved areas, PAs often serve as the bridge between patients and the care they need. According to a 2023 Harris Poll survey, 90% of respondents view PAs as trusted healthcare providers and 91% see PAs as part of the solution to address the shortage of healthcare providers.

Having a PA on a healthcare team can be the difference between a patient receiving timely care or waiting weeks, sometimes even months, for an appointment. In many cases, PAs are the first provider a patient sees – a responsibility taken seriously by PAs in the Houston community and elsewhere. According to the 2023 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 3,190 PAs serve the greater Houston area, helping to expand access to healthcare by providing care, reducing wait times and improving the availability of services across both primary and specialty settings.

This PA Week, we celebrate the vital role of PAs who not only provide critical care to patients but also strengthen the state’s healthcare infrastructure. And physicians agree! In a 2024 Morning Consult survey, 90% of physicians said PAs are important to enhancing healthcare delivery and 86% of physicians believe PAs improve healthcare access.

For nearly 60 years, the PA profession has remained rooted in its original mission: to improve and expand access to care. I’m proud to be a PA student and look forward to living out that mission by serving Texas communities in the future.

By Hannah Bolen, first-year PA student at Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Academy of Physician Assistants representative and American Academy of Physician Associates student member.