How/why did the PA program get started?

• A. To reduce healthcare costs by eliminating physicians
• B. To replace nurses in clinics
• C. To improve and expand healthcare due to shortage of primary care physicians
• D. To create competition among healthcare workers

Answer: (C)

The reason PA programs began was to expand access to care by addressing the shortage of primary care physicians, using a team-based approach. In the 1960s, the first program at Duke University was created under the vision of Dr. Eugene Stead to train individuals who could handle essential medical tasks under a physician’s supervision. They started by enrolling experienced non-physician clinicians, like former military corpsmen, to extend the reach of primary care. The goal wasn’t to replace physicians or nurses or to create competition, but to augment the physician workforce and improve patient access, especially in underserved areas. Over time, PAs have become integral in many settings, expanding capacity and allowing more patients to receive timely care while collaborating closely with physicians.