Physicians assistants in VA medical centers: In Reply

摘要

I was disappointed to read the mischaracteriza-tion of the roles of physician assistants (PAs) in the Viewpoint by Dr Bakaeen and colleagues on health care at Veterans Affairs (VA) medical centers. Their physician-centric remedies do a disservice to the nation's veterans and their families by marginalizing PAs and underestimating the access to care provided by PAs and nurse practitioners (NPs) in the VA system. The authors have mislabeled the work that PAs do as "un-proven." Yet numerous studies attest to the quality of care and efficiencies that PAs provide. Physician assistants are rigorously educated at the graduate level and practice in all medical specialties and settings.