Lemon Bars Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 Putting PAs in underserved areas where they don't have enough doctors is a major part of why physician assistants are allowed and part of why the profession is growing; I get that. But what exactly does it mean to serve in an underserved area? Does that mean that your supervising physician is only going to come around once a week to your underserved area? Or does it mean that the few doctor-staffed clinics they have in the underserved area are swamped with patients and they just need a physician assistant or two to handle the load? I don't like the idea of being a brand new PA and serving in an area far away from a supervising physician. After a few years of experience that might be okay... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Timon Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 Rural and under served are seperate from one another. You can work with an under served population but it doesn't mean that you are going to be in a rural area. Dealing with under served populations means just that... Dealing with patients who are medically underserved. The access to healthcare services is limited. There are a lot of people in Southern California that fit this criteria of being under served who aren't in the sticks.. Rural pertaining to a remote part of the country which is also considered under served. In rural you will more likely be on your own but I'm sure as a new grad you would not be thrown in the fire unless they felt you were able to handle it and possess good judgment on what you can / cannot do and when to call the Calvary. Just for definition purposes: Medically underserved population means the population of an urban or rural area designated by the Secretary as an area with a shortage of personal health services or a population group designated by the Secretary as having a shortage of such services. Two types of urban areas : Urbanized Areas (UAs) of 50,000 or more people; Urban Clusters (UCs) of at least 2,500 and less than 50,000 people. The Census does not actually define “rural.” “Rural” encompasses all population, housing, and territory not included within an urban area. Whatever is not urban is considered rural. The Census recognizes that “densely settled communities outside the boundaries of large incorporated municipalities were just as ‘‘urban’’ as the densely settled population inside those boundaries.” Their definition does not follow city or county boundaries and so it is difficult sometimes to determine whether a particular area is considered urban or rural. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cinntsp Posted February 17, 2013 Share Posted February 17, 2013 Putting PAs in underserved areas where they don't have enough doctors is a major part of why physician assistants are allowed and part of why the profession is growing; I get that. But what exactly does it mean to serve in an underserved area? Does that mean that your supervising physician is only going to come around once a week to your underserved area? Or does it mean that the few doctor-staffed clinics they have in the underserved area are swamped with patients and they just need a physician assistant or two to handle the load? I don't like the idea of being a brand new PA and serving in an area far away from a supervising physician. After a few years of experience that might be okay... Being rural does not mean solo coverage, which isn't the best idea for a new grad PA. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted February 17, 2013 Moderator Share Posted February 17, 2013 Being rural does not mean solo coverage, which isn't the best idea for a new grad PA. exactly, although rural/underserved areas generally let you advance at your own pace and when you are ready for more responsibility it is yours for the asking. in major metro areas you often have to fight tooth and nail for the silliest things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lemon Bars Posted February 18, 2013 Author Share Posted February 18, 2013 Okay that's reassuring. Thanks all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Steve Posted February 18, 2013 Share Posted February 18, 2013 That is the great part of applying for jobs... You get to interview them as much as they interview you. Just like a smart PA student finds a PA program that matches their learning style, a smart PA -C will find a job that matches their ability. Unless of course you get hungry, behind on bills, and about to be homeless from lack of income. Then it is a matter of figurative survival. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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