The Influence Of Healthcare Reforms
Healthcare reforms are affecting many healthcare jobs. Many of these reforms are designed to provide efficient care and quality standards to patients. One group of medical workers that are especially affected by these new reforms are Physician Assistants. Since Physician Assistants are an important part of a healthcare team, they are being affected by these many new reforms, which include the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, accountable care organizations (ACO’s), and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
The Accountable Care Organization is the landmark health reform legislation passed by the 111th Congress and signed into law by President Barack Obama in March 2010. Basically the ACO is a group of providers, who supply
a service, who work together to coordinate care for the consumers which they serve. The ACO has many goals in mind to deliver top-notch service to patients and professionals. Since this reform was passed, many changes have come to the healthcare industry. Physician Assistants are specifically being affected. Since new health care reforms were put in place, PA’s are expected to work more. The Affordable Care Act emphasises primary care, which means more providers are going to be needed. According to Health eCareers, there is already a shortage of primary care physicians. The gap has to be filled, and it is predicted to be filled with Physician Assistants. According to Bruce Jansen, from Forbes, PA’s are so in demand that they are being offered signing bonuses that are most commonly preserved for doctors. Another reason why demand for Physician Assistants is increasing is because the many new healthcare reforms encourage a “team based” approach to medicine. Meaning, PA’s are becoming more and more interactive with patients, and are being given more responsibilities. Responsibilities include: examining patients, diagnosing injuries and illnesses, taking x-rays, prescribe medications, etc. Some of these responsibilities were those of PA’s before new health care reforms, but some are new that have came with the new reforms.
The Accountable Care Organization is the landmark health reform legislation passed by the 111th Congress and signed into law by President Barack Obama in March 2010. Basically the ACO is a group of providers, who supply
a service, who work together to coordinate care for the consumers which they serve. The ACO has many goals in mind to deliver top-notch service to patients and professionals. Since this reform was passed, many changes have come to the healthcare industry. Physician Assistants are specifically being affected. Since new health care reforms were put in place, PA’s are expected to work more. The Affordable Care Act emphasises primary care, which means more providers are going to be needed. According to Health eCareers, there is already a shortage of primary care physicians. The gap has to be filled, and it is predicted to be filled with Physician Assistants. According to Bruce Jansen, from Forbes, PA’s are so in demand that they are being offered signing bonuses that are most commonly preserved for doctors. Another reason why demand for Physician Assistants is increasing is because the many new healthcare reforms encourage a “team based” approach to medicine. Meaning, PA’s are becoming more and more interactive with patients, and are being given more responsibilities. Responsibilities include: examining patients, diagnosing injuries and illnesses, taking x-rays, prescribe medications, etc. Some of these responsibilities were those of PA’s before new health care reforms, but some are new that have came with the new reforms.